There's a new in-vehicle triage process at WellNow Urgent Care in central New York.

All patients will need to complete an in-vehicle check-in process before entering a WellNow Urgent Care facility. This new procedure, that takes effect immediately, is a precautionary measure to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

“WellNow Urgent Care continues to analyze and evaluate our procedures during this pandemic to help ensure the health and safety of our patients and providers,” said WellNow Urgent Care President John Radford, M.D. “Using an in-vehicle triaging process allows our providers to evaluate and make real-time decisions on patients whose symptoms may be consistent with COVID-19 — helping us reduce the transmission of illness. So far, it’s being very well received by both our staff and communities.”

Before anyone enters the WellNow Urgent Care, they'll need to answer two questions:

1. Are you experiencing fever, cough or shortness of breath?
2. Have you had potential exposure to someone confirmed positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)?

If you answer “yes” to either question, you'll be instructed to use your mobile device to scan the QR code or type in the URL on the sign to complete check-in and then wait in your vehicle for a text with further instructions. The technology allows for two-texting, ensuring clear communication between your and the staff. If you have difficulty checking in online, you may call WellNow directly to be checked in over the phone while your wait in your vehicle. Only patients that answer “no” to both questions may check-in inside the facility.

If you don't have to go to urgent care, you can use WellNow Virtual Medical; a secure, HIPAA-compliant, web-based platform, where you can be seen by a WellNow provider via virtual consultation from any smart device. Ailments such as allergies, coughs, fevers, sinus infections and more can all be treated and diagnosed through online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We understand people are unsure if they should leave home to get care right now,” continued Radford. “In-vehicle triage and the expansion of WellNow Virtual Medical are the latest ways our team is stepping up to provide access to even more distancing between patients in this crisis. We hope these necessary steps will help to reassure our communities they don’t have to delay getting quality medical care.”


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