CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — UVA Health rolled out its first-ever virtual primary care services last week that everyone across the state with insurance can access. 

“Everyone who has experienced healthcare in the country and Virginia knows that there is a shortage of primary care, emergency departments are crowded, and patients can’t get in for primary care provider appointments. This new offering is designed to meet patients where they are,” John Bennett, UVA Health’s chief service line and ambulatory operations officer, said. 

Bennett reiterated that this will not change UVA’s existing in-person primary care offerings, and that the program was designed to expand patients’ access points to the services the Health System already provides. 

Patients who access virtual primary care services will be able to meet with a qualified UVA health clinician, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and in the future, physicians, pediatricians, and behavioral health professionals. 

Rebekah Compton, UVA Physicians Group’s chief operating officer, detailed that virtual health services are not designed for imaging and lab work procedures or emergency care, but can help with routine wellness visits, follow up care, prescription refills, and mental health concerns.   

Whenever it is called for, virtual care providers will help facilitate an in-person follow-up for patients seeking needs that should only be met in an in-person capacity.  The health system says it has the capacity to schedule lab work and imaging at locations across the state and can schedule in-person visits at UVA locations throughout Virginia as well.  

Virtual primary care services are available to any adult over the age of 18 in Virginia with qualified insurance. For those without, UVA Health operates programs to ensure patients can still be seen.  

Children over the age of five will be seen beginning July 1.  Caregivers, parents, and guardians of patients will be able to join the call in real time if the patient gives permission.  A patient does not need to be established within the UVA Health system, or have access to a MyChart account, the system’s existing digital app.  Patients can be seen virtually outside of Virginia as well, but the service will only facilitate any needed in-person care at locations in Virginia.  

In most cases, costs for virtual appointments will be identical to in-person primary care visits but will be cheaper than urgent care visits or emergency room visits.   

“It is sometimes hard for patients to see PCP for a long period of time; this can be a bridge until they can establish that long term relationship to have a primary care home.” Bennett said. 

At rollout, four nurses and additional practitioners are seeing patients from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, with plans to expand its weekend hours to that time range once more staff members are added.  Weekend hours currently end at 5 p.m.