E-Visits offer quick connection to expert care

Physician assistant Jamie Zink has a new way to meet patients. An alert on her smartphone tells her another patient is waiting for her via an Essentia Health E-Visit.

Instead of walking into an exam room at the Essentia Health-West Fargo Clinic, Zink logs into a secure computer network. There, the experienced physician assistant reviews information that a patient has submitted by answering an online questionnaire. It asks much the same questions that Zink or a colleague would have asked as part of a clinic visit.

“The E-Visit questionnaire asks a thorough set of questions that not only helps with a diagnosis, but also makes sure that an online appointment is both appropriate and safe for this patient,” explains Zink. “I have all the information I need to make a diagnosis and offer treatment.”

Essentia E-visits are available for 20 common health concerns and take five to 10 minutes for a patient to complete. Within an hour, an Essentia Health physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner reviews the information and connects with the patient. People who are Essentia Health patients or Minnesota residents receive an email reply with a diagnosis, treatment plan and, if appropriate, a prescription. The email also includes advice on self-care measures and other information, such as a medicine’s potential side effects. North Dakota residents who aren’t Essentia Health patients have a video visit with the provider before the email is sent.

TRY AN E-VISIT instead of a clinic appointment

Essentia Health offers E-Visits for 20 common health concerns, which means you can get care from the comfort of your home or office. Just log in to essentiahealth.org/onlinevisit from your smartphone, tablet or computer.

An electronic visit begins with you answering an online questionnaire about your symptoms and medical history. It takes about five to 10 minutes.

An Essentia Health physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner reviews the information and responds within an hour, anytime day or night. You receive an email with your diagnosis and care plan and, if appropriate, a prescription will be sent to your pharmacy. North Dakota residents who aren’t Essentia Health patients have a video visit with the provider before the email is sent. If you need to schedule a clinic appointment to address your condition, you won’t be charged for the E-Visit.

E-Visits are available for adults, ages 18–64. An adult must start an E-Visit for patients who are age 17 or younger. An E-Visit costs $30.

ESSENTIA E-VISITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE CONDITIONS: w Acne w Burns (minor) w Canker or cold sore w Cold, sinus infection, or sore throat (upper respiratory infection) w Constipation, diarrhea and/or irritable bowel syndrome w Diaper rash w Eczema or dermatitis w Female bladder infection (UTI) w Hay fever/allergies w Influenza (the flu) w Lice w Lower back pain w Pink eye (conjunctivitis) w Shingles w Stye (bump or bumps on the eyelid) w Tick bite w Tinea (fungal skin infection) w Tobacco cessation w Vaginal yeast infection

“The conditions we’re treating on an E-Visit are much like what I see working walk-in care at our West Fargo Clinic,” Zink says. “The questionnaire itself helps determine if a patient needs to be seen instead at a clinic because I can’t make a diagnosis without a physical examination or something else, like a lab test.”

Since she began working on E-Visits last November, Zink says her most frequent diagnoses have been sinus infections and bladder infections.

“Many patients know what they had before and now are having the same symptoms,” she explains. One helpful feature, especially when it comes to rashes and pink eye, allows a patient to submit a photograph to help with a diagnosis.

“If there’s any ambiguity and we can’t confirm symptoms, we’ll recommend that you be seen at a clinic to make sure you get appropriate care,” Zink explains. “You’re not charged for that E-Visit so it’s always OK to go through the questionnaire and process.”

As last winter’s flu season peaked, patients used E-Visits to share their symptoms and get expert advice on whether they had the flu and needed a prescription or were at risk for complications. “A nice thing about an E-visit is that when you’re feeling really bad, you stay home and have an appointment,” Zink says. “And during influenza season, patients with other illnesses don’t have to come into a clinic where we’re treating flu patients.”

Zink sees many benefits for patients. E-Visits are available 24/7 by simply logging on with a computer, tablet or smartphone. Not only are they convenient, they save time traveling to an appointment and waiting to see a provider.