Virtual care, Convenient Care or Emergency Care: How to Choose the Right One
Injuries or illnesses can happen quickly, and knowing where to get medical care is important. Waking up with a sore throat, tripping when walking the dog or having trouble breathing are different situations, and understanding the differences is essential to receiving appropriate care. It’s always stressful to figure out where to go, especially if the injury is too severe for your regular primary care physician, or your illness happens during the weekend or evening.
Understanding the differences between virtual care, convenient care or emergency care is important to get the right type of medical care. Not all injuries and illnesses require the emergency room. You can save time and money by knowing what each option means and which one you need in any given situation.
A virtual care visit is an online appointment with a doctor or nurse practitioner for minor illnesses or injuries. With BJC Virtual Care, you can receive same-day care from the comfort of your home. It’s one of the most flexible ways to receive treatment and/or medications for common conditions.
When there’s a minor illness or injury that can’t wait, you can schedule an on-demand virtual visit with the next available BJC doctor or nurse practitioner. The virtual care provider can make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan at the same cost as a primary care office co-pay.
Choose virtual care for:
Cold and flu: sneezing, aches, cough, sore throat, strep throat
Sinus and allergies: itchy eyes, sinus infection, nasal congestion, pink eye
Pain: earaches, headaches, back pain, joint pain
COVID symptoms: cough, fatigue, fever, shortness of breath
Women’s health: urinary tract infections, yeast infections
Virtual care on-demand features:
Easy online scheduling
Same-day appointments available
Available to existing and new patients ages 12 and older
Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m., seven days a week, including all holidays
Insurance is not required but can be applied. Co-pay is the same as a primary care visit.
Schedule a virtual care visit on a smartphone or computer.
Individuals experiencing chest pains, signs of stroke or another potentially life-threatening medical emergency should immediately call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room for prompt care.
Convenient care locations provide treatment for minor injuries and illnesses, similar to what you would go to your primary care provider for. Patients have an in-person visit with a nurse practitioner at a cost similar to a primary care co-pay. Convenient care is a good option when you are not feeling well and you want a face-to-face interaction with a health care provider, but your illness is not severe enough for the emergency room.
Choose convenient care for:
Cold and flu: sneezing, aches, cough, sore throat, strep throat
Sinus and allergies: itchy eyes, sinus infection, nasal congestion, pink eye
Pain: earaches, headaches, back pain, joint pain
Minor cuts and minor burns
Women’s health: urinary tract infections, yeast infections
COVID testing
Vaccinations
School or sports physicals
Some convenient care locations have X-rays and labs on site for further testing. Convenient care locations are not equipped to stitch wounds or set compound fractures. For severe injuries or illnesses that exceed the capabilities of convenient care, staff may refer the patient to an emergency room.
Convenient care features:
Easy online scheduling available
Open daily and extended evening hours
Available to existing and new patients of all ages
Wait times can vary depending on the volume of walk-in traffic
Insurance is not required but can be applied. Co-pay is the same as a primary care visit
BJC Medical Group has eight convenient care locations in Missouri and Illinois
Choose a convenient care location for in-person treatment.
Individuals experiencing chest pains, signs of stroke or another potentially life-threatening medical emergency should immediately call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room for prompt care.
An emergency department (ED) provides around-the-clock care for serious or life-threatening medical emergencies in which prompt care is critical. Examples may include suspected heart attack or stroke, traumatic injury or severe allergic reactions that present a serious health threat.
Choose emergency care for:
Uncontrollable bleeding
Broken bones
Chest pain
Loss of balance or fainting
Rapid heartbeat
Severe allergic reaction
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Severe pain
Sudden vision impairment
Moderate to severe burns
Swallowed a poisonous substance
Seizures or convulsions
Fever in infants
Pregnancy-related problems
Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Trauma or serious injury
Emergency care features:
Emergency care should be reserved for serious medical situations. Care is prioritized by medical necessity, such as the severity of symptoms.
You may hold your place in line online at some BJC locations, but wait times can be long and can vary depending on the number and severity of emergencies in the queue.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all ages.
Co-pays for ER visits are much higher than visits to a primary care doctor, a virtual visit or a visit to a Convenient Care Clinic, even with insurance.
Learn more about BJC emergency care at a hospital near you.
In cases of sudden, serious illness or injury, time is of the essence. If you or a loved one experiences a life-threatening medical emergency and cannot safely get to an ED unassisted, do not hesitate to call 911.