Sick in Cincinnati? Ohio’s Largest Health System Embraces Online Medicine

If you live the Buckeye State, you could soon get your medical care delivered virtually. That means seeing a real doctor from a health system known throughout the tri-state area without the hassle of making an appointment, traveling to the doctor’s office and languishing in a germ-infected waiting room.

Ohio’s Largest Health System Embraces Online Medicine

IMAGE SOURCE

A Major Health Player Dives Into the Online Medicine Market

One of patients’ biggest concerns about online doctor is whether they can trust a doctor they see virtually. Research shows that 65 percent of patients surveyed said it was “somewhat or very unlikely” that they would choose telemedicine over face-to-face doctor visits, but that they would be more likely to make a virtual appointment if they’d met that doctor in person.

Patients’ comfort with online medicine all comes down to trust. When you find a doctor through an app you’ve never heard of, you don’t know that physician’s credentials. On the other hand, when existing health systems put online medical services in place, you don’t have to worry about whether the person treating you is a “real” doctor. The online medical service brings with it the credibility of a major health system.

For patients in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, trusted online medical services are more accessible than ever though Mercy Health’s Evisits. The Mercy Health system owns 23 hospitals and more than 180 doctors’ offices and clinics. Mercy Health is poised to become one of the largest health systems in the U.S. after in February 2018 announcing plans to merge with Maryland-based Bon Secours, another nonprofit Catholic health system.

Evisits With Mercy Health System

Who could benefit from an Evisit? The service connects patients in Greater Cincinnati with primary providers only, not specialists or surgeons. The service is ideal for non-urgent conditions, including:

  • Headache
  • Back pain
  • Stomach issues such as heartburn and diarrhea
  • Urinary and vaginal issues
  • Pinkeye
  • Poison ivy
  • Allergies, colds and sinus issues

Mercy Health Evisits cost just $36, and some insurers cover the appointments. If requested during business hours – 7 to 7 daily – patients can often get help from the next available provider within one hour.