Cone Health adds virtual care options for those who may have COVID-19

Cone Health has added more virtual care options for people with COVID or flu-like symptoms. 

Cone Health officials say they implemented COVID-19 e-visits after the system saw a record 304 people with COVID-19 on Monday.

They say that virtual care provides needed options while helping people avoid long waits in emergency departments.

A patient would first fill out an online questionnaire, and then receive a free care plan within an hour.

On-demand video visits will allow face-to-face discussions about symptoms. Those visits will be charged through the patient's insurance carrier.  

Dr. Olu Jegede is the area medical director with Cone Health. He says that virtual care offers convenience while reducing the potential for unnecessary exposure to the virus.

"The emergency room right now is full with a lot of people who are positive for COVID," says Jegede. "So if you think you need to go to the emergency room, but it's not really emergent, this is the opportunity to call and be assessed or evaluated by a doctor, and they will tell you the next step of care."

Dr. Jegede says the virtual options are for people with common COVID-19 symptoms such as headaches, coughing, or fever. People experiencing more severe symptoms such as trouble breathing or persistent chest pain are still urged to seek emergency care.