News
November 3, 2024

New virtual medical centers in CT are like a 'clinic in a box' where patients get scanned, diagnosed

By Jayden Nguyen, Staff Writer
Nov 3, 2024

When a patient arrives at an OnMed CareStation location, the door will be open if the station is available. No appointments are necessary and anyone seeking medical care may walk in. Patients press "start" on a screen and one of Hartford HealthCare's certified nursing or medical assistants will explain the station's process in a video call.

Some of the technology used in the station includes fogged glass for patient privacy, high-definition cameras, a heat camera with thermal imaging to check a patient's temperature, a blood pressure cuff, a pulse oximeter and a stethoscope for a medical expert to listen to a patient's heart and lungs. The station is also self-cleaning, using spray, air filtration and UV lights to clean itself after each patient's visit.

The station can detect infections, respiratory illnesses, heartburn, allergies and headaches, according to Hartford HealthCare's website. Patients can also get an examination of their ears, eyes and throat and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan.

"You can think of it almost like a clinic in a box," Hartford HealthCare's Chief Integration Officer Debra Hayes said. "A typical visit includes everything that a patient would expect at a typical doctor's office visit." She added that the stations can address about 85% of "what you get at a typical primary care visit."

The Hartford HealthCare OnMed virtual healthcare suite at Stop & Shop in Dayville, Killingly, Conn.
Chris Rakoczy/Contributed

Connecticut is one of five states with OnMed CareStations that are currently live and available for patients to use, according to OnMed's map of its station sites on its website. There are two stations that are live in Connecticut, one at Stop & Shop in Killingly and one at The Village for Families and Children in Hartford.

The medical insurance policies for each location are different based off each "community's needs," Hayes said. For Hartford's OnMed CareStation, insurance is accepted but not required. In Killingly, insurance is required and the station accepts all major insurance.

Patients will receive a symptom assessment, diagnosis and a treatment plan at the end of their OnMed CareStation visits. For any necessary medications, patients can also receive a e-prescription from the station's medical experts. A typical OnMed CareStation visit is around 15 to 20 minutes, Hayes said.

The CareStation locations were also selected so that patients could easily get their prescriptions filled at Stop & Shop or The Village.

"Think of it like one step above sitting at your kitchen table and doing a virtual visit," Hayes said. "It really does enable the provider to make a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan."

A nurse practitioner evaluates a patient using OnMed technology.
OnMed/Contributed

Hayes said that OnMed CareStations can help deliver immediate post-acute care services to patients that are two years or older in a "lower cost setting."

"We took a multifaceted approach to identifying where we were going to locate these CareStations," Hayes said. "Hartford HealthCare is always looking to expand access, but we also want to tailor it to the needs of the community."

Hayes added that Hartford HealthCare and OnMed are "still working" on their plans to open a third CareStation in Connecticut.

"We want to make sure we put it in a community that can truly benefit from additional access to affordable quality healthcare," she said.

Hayes said Hartford HealthCare and OnMed partnered on creating CareStations in Connecticut because they "share the same mission" of "ensuring everyone has access to the care that they need."

"We're always looking for innovative, alternative and affordable options for patients to access the care they need when they need it," Hayes said. "The partnership with OnMed really does allow us to do just that, to provide our patients and the members of the communities we serve with an alternative that meets the patients where they are so they can get the care they need."

Hayes said that patients with more urgent medical issues should visit Hartford HealthCare's urgent care locations or one of its emergency rooms. OnMed care providers can also provide referrals to patients who need added care, such as routine cancer screenings, immunizations or help with more complex injuries and illnesses, according to Hartford HealthCare's website.

The OnMed CareStation in Killingly is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. Hartford's OnMed Care Station is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visits are currently only conducted in English, according to Hartford HealthCare's website.

Link to article HERE

About OnMed

OnMed is a leading tech-enabled human led health equity solution with a mission to improve the quality of life and sense of well-being in communities by increasing access to healthcare, anywhere. The OnMed CareStation is a unique hybrid-care delivery system blending virtual care’s real-time convenience with the benefits of traditional care and the latest in health technology. OnMed is actively building commercial partnerships across multiple markets including Government and Public entities, Payers, Provider Systems, Large Employers, Colleges and Universities, and high-traffic venues to improve health equity, access, and affordability.

Subscribe to get the latest from OnMed straight to your inbox.
Thank you for subscribing! We have great things in store for you.
Subscribed!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Explore more content

Press Release
December 5, 2024

OnMed to Make World Debut at CES 2025: Transforming Healthcare Access for Underserved Communities

News
December 3, 2024

The OnMed CareStation will be on display at CES 2025!

News
November 18, 2024

OnMed, CareSource and Valley Healthcare collaborate to bring innovative hybrid care solution to Columbus.

News
November 6, 2024

"Demand for primary care is growing as the U.S. population ages, but supply is shrinking, setting up a perfect storm for public health."

News
November 3, 2024

New virtual medical centers in CT are like a 'clinic in a box' where patients get scanned, diagnosed

News
October 30, 2024

'OnMed CareStation' at The Village in Hartford provides patients cost-free and effective care

News
October 29, 2024

OnMed Brings Groundbreaking CareStation Solution to Communities Experiencing Homelessness Through Tampa Hope Partnership

Press Release
October 10, 2024

OnMed Board of Directors Expands to Include Former Congressman Kendrick Meek

Press Release
September 10, 2024

Georgia’s State Health Benefit Plan and Sharecare launch OnMed CareStation to enhance care access for state employees

Press Release
May 6, 2024

OnMed Announces its Expansion of Services to Include Milam County Prison System

Press Release
July 8, 2024

OnMed and Overtown Youth Center (OYC Miami) announce a new partnership for a unique healthcare access solution.

Press Release
October 3, 2023

OnMed Welcomes Healthcare Executives Heyward Donigan and Ken Goulet to Its Board of Directors

News
September 9, 2024

Tuskegee University and OnMed Announce Partnership to Deliver Innovative Virtual Care Clinic and Services

Press Release
March 11, 2024

OnMed Announces Karthik Ganesh as CEO

News
December 12, 2023

OnMed Teams Up with Leading Medical Solutions Providers to Develop Medical Surge Capabilities for U.S. National Disaster Medical System

News
March 19, 2024

Doubling Down on Care: OnMed & Hartford HealthCare Open Second Care Station.

News
January 5, 2024

Hartford HealthCare & OnMed launch new healthcare experience Connecticut