If it's freezing outside, your car breaks down or you just don't want to sit in a waiting room, online immediate care is for you. Nebraska Medicine has just started Immediate Care Video Visits. This new service gives Nebraska Medicine patients access to expert immediate care from the comfort of their own home. From your phone or computer, you can get medical help on evenings, weekends and holidays.

Connect with a local provider online:

• Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Holidays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

An Immediate Care Video Visit features the same providers from our Immediate Care Clinics – so you get the same access to local health care experts.

How online immediate care works

Download the Nebraska Medicine app to get started. You need a One Chart | Patient account to log in to the app – request one here if you don't have one. It may take a full business day to process your request.

Once you've signed in, you can start an Immediate Care Video Visit and:

1. Tell us why you want to be seen.
2. Tell us about yourself.
3. Check in to your video visit.

Before you join the queue, an estimated wait time will be shown, where you can do other things. Then you'll get a text message or email notifying you that a provider is ready to see you.

Impatient patients will love how an Immediate Care Video Visit eliminates sitting in a waiting room. Jason Patera, MD, champions the new service, saying, "It's patient-focused, not provider-focused. When you join the visit, the provider will already be there waiting for you. Instead of sitting in a waiting room, you can relax in your living room." No appointment needed – just sign in.

What types of care work best?

Problems that don't require a procedure work best for an Immediate Care Video Visit. For a laceration or broken bone, go to an in-person emergency room or an Immediate Care Clinic. But for other issues – like joint pain, skin conditions, urinary tract infections and respiratory symptoms – an online visit works great. 

"A video visit doesn't limit your care. The only thing that's limited is physical touch," says Dr. Patera. Your immediate care provider can prescribe everything that they can in person: from antibiotics and skin treatments to pain medications and more. If you have respiratory symptoms, your provider can order drive-thru COVID-19 testing, often for the very next day.

This innovative service was created to slow the spread of COVID-19. "Virtual care is how we've been able to treat many COVID-19 patients without putting our care team members at risk. Online immediate care pushes the technology even further. We're excited to offer virtual care to everyone," says Dr. Patera. 

Impatient patients rejoice: this new service is for you. Find out more about Immediate Care Video Visits.