By Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
What do patients do if they need to see a doctor, but it’s after primary care hours? Many head to the ER, which is generally more expensive, less efficient and often not the appropriate place to treat common infections and illness.
Now NYC Health+Hospitals is offering New York City patients a different option called Express Care. Molly Chidester, Chief Strategy Officer and Assistant Vice President, OneCity Health, a subsidiary of NYC Health + Hospitals, shared the benefits of this new approach at the 6th Annual New York Hospital, Outpatient Facilities & Medical Office Building Summit held Sept. 25 at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
She explained that it’s an urgent-care model that is located on the hospital campus but is not the ER. It’s typically open from 3 p.m. to midnight, and no appointment is needed. Patients can just walk in.
She says it’s linked to a suite of services across the continuum so if the patient does need imaging or lab work, they can be sent right down the hall within the hospital. Health information is shared through your EMR, and Express Care is connected to the patient’s primary care and insurance.
Express Care reduces unnecessary trips to the ER. It increases low-cost access points. It engages patients in care by linking them to a PCP and insurance, and it opens new markets for the provider.