The normalcy of going to an emergency room or urgent care clinic for a fever, bad cut, or other urgent medical need has quickly changed as people are encouraged to practice social distancing in an attempt to limit exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19).
So, how can you benefit from medical house calls during this pandemic?
DispatchHealth’s Healthcare Delivery Services
Nowadays, seeking urgent medical care for illnesses and injuries during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can seem complicated. If you’re hesitant to leave the house, the best alternative is to have acute medical care delivered to your home. DispatchHealth offers contemporary house call services, sending medical teams to your home with sanitized equipment and protective gear. This alternative to traditional, facility-based urgent care is ideal in today’s environment where avoiding crowded settings and limiting your exposure to others—especially those who are sick—is encouraged.
Requesting Care is Easy
DispatchHealth’s house call visits are easy to request, even in a pandemic. For our services, simply contact us via phone, mobile app, or our website. Once a house call is requested, our screening process will ensure that you or your loved one receives the timely care that is needed. You can typically expect one of our medical teams to arrive at your place of need within a few hours of the request. Each team consists of either a physician assistant or nurse practitioner, along with a DispatchHealth medical technician (DHMT). And the medical kit brought onsite will contain most of the tools and technologies found in an ER, allowing team members to perform a variety of advanced medical tests and treatments.
Following care, we call in prescriptions, update your doctors and handle billing with your insurance company.
In short, we are dedicated to making our processes as thorough and streamlined as possible, especially in this stressful time, to help keep you and your loved ones safe.
How We’re Keeping You Safe
Extensive protocols have been put in place to ensure medical teams are taking utmost precautions when treating patients. Our medical teams wear surgical masks, gloves and protective eyewear for every patient encounter. For patients with respiratory and/or COVID-19 symptoms our teams also wear N95 respirator masks, gowns and shoe covers. Additionally, we wipe down our medical cases and equipment before and after every visit, as well as disinfect the car. Plus, our teams follow strict guidelines for entering and exiting patient homes, and for disposing material used during patient care.
We Can Test for COVID-19
Our teams can test for COVID-19. However, tests will be administered when our providers deem appropriate. Samples are sent to a national lab for processing, and results can take up to 3-5 days.
The lab we are using has FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Your insurance is billed directly for the test. Beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare should not have any out-of-pocket charges for the test under the new CARES Act.
We Can Treat and Support COVID-19 Patients
Our teams can treat people that have tested positive for COVID-19. Our medical teams can evaluate and treat your symptoms and secondary conditions. We have nearly all the capabilities of an emergency room and can administer IV fluids, prescribe medication, and more.
For Emergencies, Call 911
If you or a loved one are showing any of these signs, call 911 or head to your local emergency facility immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
To learn more, visit https://www.dispatchhealth.com/covid-19/.
Sources
DispatchHealth relies only on authoritative sources, including medical associations, research institutions, and peer-reviewed medical studies.
Sources referenced in this article:
