New patients may now access pediatrics, senior care, family medicine, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecological services through a virtual visit, with select services available 24 hours a day.
New patients previously had to visit an LSCC clinic in-person to establish initial care, which officials with the organization said they recognize can be difficult due to long work hours, lack of transportation, lack of child care or limited mobility.
“Being able to establish new patients through a virtual visit is a game-changer, especially for the communities already suffering from inequities in the health care delivery system,” LSCC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kathleen V. Butler said in the release. “With these new options, we are able to remove some of the barriers to accessing high-quality, low-cost health care."
Through virtual visits, board certified LSCC physicians and providers can diagnose and treat common conditions and write prescriptions. If an issue cannot be addressed through a virtual visit, the LSCC physician or provider may schedule an in-person appointment or other appropriate follow-up, the release said.
Patients can call LSCC 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with a nurse or request a virtual visit with an LSCC health care provider for pediatrics, senior care and family medicine services, the release said.
LSCC accepts most commercial insurance plans as well as Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP. For qualifying patients who do not have insurance, LSCC additionally offers a sliding fee scale, the release said.
“We know how important continuity of care is, especially for those who have chronic conditions or are immunocompromised and need regular treatment,” Butler said. “This pandemic is uncharted territory for everyone, and that uncertainty can feel very overwhelming. You have to figure out very quickly how to plan for the unknown, and we are here to help patients through it.”
LSCC launched virtual visits for established patients in April of this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.
Lone Star Circle of Care is located at 2423 Williams Drive, Georgetown. 877-800-5722. https://lonestarcares.org/
