When 31-year-old Cassie Jones’ doctor moved from a brick-and-mortar office to virtual care appointments, Cassie didn’t hesitate to follow her. Cassie had been seeing Dr. Tara Burgher, now a primary care physician with Atrium Health Primary Care Virtual Family Medicine, for several years.
“I was super excited about virtual visits,” Cassie says. “I felt really comfortable with Dr. Burgher and didn’t want to look for a new primary care doctor. I liked that she was familiar with my medical history and background.”
Cassie says she appreciates how Burgher is always attentive and communicative during their virtual appointments. She says she feels heard, and Burgher takes the time to explan health topics in a clear, understandable way.
If in-person care is needed, Burgher refers Cassie for lab work, imaging or in-person care appointments. Cassie can schedule lab work at a facility about 10 minutes away from her home. Then, she schedules a follow-up video appointment with Burgher to discuss the results.
Convenient care
Cassie loves her job as an English instructor at a community college. However, her teaching schedule and personal obligations keep her quite busy.
“I love that virtual care visits are more convenient for my schedule,” Cassie says. “I no longer have to commute to and from appointments.”
Without having to commute, Cassie finds it easier to schedule virtual appointments that fit her calendar. Plus, Burgher tends to have more availability when Cassie needs an appointment within a week or two.
Virtual Family Medicine offers timely access and convenience for patients who want most of their routine health care appointments and sick visits handled virtually by a doctor and care team they know and trust. The virtual care team is available for appointments 24/7.
Secure and confidential visits
Virtual providers strive to understand each patient’s unique lifestyle and health concerns.
“As I’m going over the patient’s issues and ailments, I’m also trying to understand who they are as a person,” Burgher says. “Lifestyle details give you a lot of insight into their health.”
Virtual primary care allows patients to discuss their health with a physician from the privacy of their home using secure videoconferencing technology. All information shared during virtual appointments remains strictly confidential.
“With some of the more sensitive topics, patients tend to approach them better virtually,” Burgher says. “No one sees them walking in and out of an office. Patients are more open and honest when discussing the underlying causes of their health issues, such as food insecurities or relationship problems.”
Virtual primary care services
Virtual primary care is ideal for patients who don’t require extensive hands-on care, prefer flexible scheduling beyond standard office hours and appreciate the convenience of virtual visits.
Conditions treated by Virtual Family Medicine:
- Urinary tract infections, coughs and colds. Patients with these conditions often present specific symptoms that require a standard course of treatment.
- Mental health issues. For patients with anxiety and depression, virtual providers can use screening tools to help diagnose their condition and get a workup started. Providers also use virtual appointments to follow up on symptoms and monitor medication. Virtual providers can refer patients for psychiatric care as needed.
- Weight management. Virtual providers can prescribe and monitor weight loss medications.
- Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If a referral for an in-person appointment is needed, the virtual provider will coordinate the visit with an in-person provider.
Team-based approach
Even though virtual providers offer visits from home, they aren't working alone. Virtual care still operates with a team-based approach. If a virtual provider has questions about a patient, they can easily join a videoconference with their teammates to discuss the case.
If a patient needs care beyond what a virtual provider can offer, the provider coordinates with the team to refer the patient to an in-person primary care provider.
No turning back
Now that she’s experienced virtual primary care for over a year, Cassie prefers this type of health care over in-person visits. She says that virtual care has had a positive impact on her overall health.
“I tend to delay going to the doctor as long as possible if I feel pressed for time,” Cassie says. “Virtual care enables me to book primary care appointments more frequently, helping me stay on top of my health.”
Cassie offers this advice to patients considering virtual primary care: “Give it a try. You won’t know if it works until you try it yourself.”
Schedule an appointment
Patients can find a Virtual Family Medicine physician and schedule a virtual care appointment using the following:
- Visit the Atrium Health website
- Use the MyAtriumHealth app
- Call 704-667-0920
