LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Doctor offices everywhere are slammed with patients these days amid the coronavirus outbreak. One Lexington physician and her husband provide "virtual doctor visits."
"It's like Netflix, but for your doctor you pay a flat monthly fee to see us whenever you want," Dr. Erin Cooper described.
Cooper and her husband, Dr. Geoff Cooper, run Olive Health Direct Primary Care off Executive Drive in Lexington. It's an in-person, tele-health practice that provides medical care for patients who don't have to leave their home. Dr. Cooper says those virtual visits are for less serious illnesses such as urinary tract infections, sinus infections, allergies. heartburn and constipation. She says patients can call or sign up online. Many of her patients don't have insurance. They pay a monthly fee between fifteen and 125 dollars depending on a person's age.
"Everything is covered in that fee, so we can just do what makes the most sense for the patient." says Cooper.
She says her practice has been crucial to patients, especially now.
"For the coronavirus, specifically, what it helps us do is keep healthy people out of the office, keep them at home and help us triage the sick," Cooper explained.
Patients get a blood pressure monitor, thermometer and equipment to check oxygen and heart rate. Seriously ill patients are seen in person.
Cooper says she believes virtual visits are the future of primary care.
To learn more about Dr. Cooper's office, you can visit their website.