DispatchHealth Launches Traveling Flu Crew to Deliver Affordable On-demand Urgent Care This Flu Season

DENVER, Oct. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year's influenza outbreak was one of the worst in nearly a decade and the severity of the outbreak was extreme. In fact, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded over 20,000 positive flu tests per week at the height of the outbreak. While most seek treatment at an emergency room (ER) or urgent care clinic, when leaving one's home the virus can be immediately exposed to others and cause further spread of the flu. Also, ERs and clinics can easily become overwhelmed with a high number of sick patients during flu season, leading to overcrowding, lengthy wait times and even physician burnout. DispatchHealth offers a convenient solution by providing on-demand urgent care services for people of all ages in the comfort of their own home, all while decreasing costs.

The flu is transmitted by contact and airborne measures and is especially dangerous for young children, seniors and those with chronic illnesses. A person who has caught the virus can infect others up to six feet away. Adults can infect others one day before their flu symptoms even develop and can pass on the virus up to a full week after becoming sick.

With only a quick call, DispatchHealth's board-certified medical team – also referred to as this season's "Traveling Flu Crew" – arrives ready to perform a rapid infectious disease test, administer IV fluids, prescribe anti-nausea medication, prescribe antivirals if caught early enough, order a chest xray if pneumonia is suspected, and more. Unlike a crowded clinic, the DispatchHealth Traveling Flu Crew spends as much time as needed with each patient to thoroughly understand each person's unique case and determine the most effective treatment plan.

In addition to the flu, DispatchHealth's medical teams can treat common to complex injuries and illnesses, including urinary tract infections, migraines, respiratory infections, sprains and fractures, the common cold, joint or back pain, and much more.

Each medical team consists of either a physician assistant or nurse practitioner, along with a medical technician and also an on-call (board-certified, locally licensed) physician. To ensure continuity of care, a detailed report is provided to each patient's living facility, home health agency and/or primary care physician.

DispatchHealth is partnered with most major insurance companies and handles billing directly with those companies. A visit with DispatchHealth typically costs 80-90 percent less than the average emergency room visit. On average, patients pay between $40-$50 depending on their plan. If patients are uninsured, DispatchHealth accepts a flat fee of $275, which includes any medications administered and lab tests during the visit, as well as procedures performed.

DispatchHealth is available 7 days a week, including holidays, in Colorado Springs, the Denver Metro area, Houston, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and Richmond. DispatchHealth is available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time in most locations.

About DispatchHealth
DispatchHealth is redefining healthcare delivery to offer on-demand care for people of all ages in the comfort of their own home. DispatchHealth's board-certified medical teams are equipped with all the tools necessary to treat common to complex injuries and illnesses. DispatchHealth works closely with payers, providers, health systems and others to deliver care in the home to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital readmissions. A visit with DispatchHealth typically costs 80-90 percent less than the average emergency room visit. Medical teams are available during the day and also on weekends, evenings and holidays, and can be requested via app, online or a quick phone call. DispatchHealth is partnered with most major insurance companies. For more information, visit DispatchHealth.com.

SOURCE DispatchHealth

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http://www.dispatchhealth.com