Expanding access to healthcare has always been part of our mission. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, that mission became even more critical. We will continue working hard to make sure all women can access high-quality affordable care whenever they need it.
Asynchronous telemedicine is key to making healthcare more accessible and affordable, and we are proud to share that women currently make up 64% of our visits. We offer a suite of asynchronous telemedicine protocols geared specifically towards women’s health. Today, these are our top four protocols for women.
Birth Control Prescriptions and Refills
Our asynchronous birth control protocol is designed to start patients on a new birth control medication, expedite prescription refills for an existing birth control medication, or restart previous birth control medication for low-risk patients ages 18 to 40. The birth control protocol consists of an intelligent adaptive interview that asks questions about relevant medical history using CDC’s U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use.
Emergency Contraception Medication
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy, but it should be taken shortly after unprotected sex. Because of the time constraint it carries, a virtual option can be an easy and quick way to get emergency contraception. We offer Plan B as an over-the-counter option and Ella® as a prescription option. The protocol also allows for patient education and appropriate referral of patients who require additional care.
Female Bladder Infection Treatment
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections among females. The oldest asynchronous protocol in our suite of women’s health focuses on the management of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections for female patients ages 18–75. Patients with symptoms or medical history suggestive of complicated UTI are referred out for additional evaluation to an appropriate level of care. Antibiotic adherence is also measured for acute uncomplicated bladder infection. The adherence criteria are annually reviewed by our Clinical Quality Advisory Council (CQAC) which consists of clinician champions across our health system partners. About 92% of the UTI visits from January to August of this year were adherent based on the UTI adherence criteria defined in the clinical guideline document.
Vaginal Yeast Infection Treatment
Vaginal yeast infection in another common infection that affects women. The vaginal yeast infection protocol captures information on symptoms, history of previous vaginal yeast infection, STD risk, recent antibiotic use, and any other pertinent medical history. The purpose of the protocol is to obtain an initial history and provide evaluation and treatment for female patients ages 18-75 who are seeking care for mild to moderate yeast vaginitis.
As with all our asynchronous protocols, these women’s healthcare protocols are highly efficient for both patients and providers. Patients usually can start a visit and receive their personalized treatment plan within 10 minutes. Meanwhile, physicians diagnose and treat patients in just 89 seconds. To learn more about the power of asynchronous telemedicine, download a free copy of our definitive Asynchronous Telemedicine Guide.
