Acute Care

Urgent health problems require prompt care to relieve symptoms and prevent your condition from worsening. Contact VirtualMed Iowa if you’re sick or injured. The team at VirtualMed Iowa provides timely acute care to patients throughout Iowa for everything from cold and flu symptoms to headaches and rashes via telehealth. Call VirtualMed Iowa for further details, or book a telehealth acute care appointment online today.

What is acute care?

Acute care delivers fast, accurate diagnoses and effective treatment for urgent symptoms and injuries. Problems that benefit from acute care include:

• Pink eye
• Pain with urination (may require UA testing)
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Constipation
• Fevers
• Sore throat (may require strep testing)
• Earache
• Hemorrhoids
• Skin rash or hives
• Sprains and strains
• Bug bites
• Vaginal discharge/odor

Can virtual medicine handle all conditions requiring acute care?

Due to the virtual nature of appointments with VirtualMed Iowa, there may be some instances that would require in-person care or more emergent evaluation. If your provider feels it is medically necessary for you to be evaluated in person or in the emergency room, they will communicate that at the time of visit. The conditions listed below should receive prompt emergent care:

• Severe chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Acting on suicidal thoughts
• Severe abdominal pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Stroke symptoms
• Seizures
• Compound fractures (where you can see a broken bone)
• Gunshot and knife wounds
• Paralysis
• Severe burns, cuts, and scalds

Some patients Rachel sees with mild to moderate health problems might require tests or procedures like X-rays. If so, she will go over the results with you afterward.

What happens at my acute care consultation?

If you need an acute care consultation, book a telehealth appointment at VirtualMed Iowa. First, Rachel assesses your symptoms and checks your medical history. She may ask you to show her visible signs of illness, such as swelling, a rash, reddened eyes, or the site of pain on your device’s camera.

The treatment you need varies depending on your condition and its severity. Fortunately, people with healthy immune systems usually overcome viruses with rest and over-the-counter medicines. Rachel offers advice on caring for yourself, including getting enough rest, eating a nutritious diet, and staying hydrated.

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections but won’t help with viral illnesses like colds. Rachel might prescribe antiviral drugs if you’re at risk of complications. She can complete an electronic prescription for you to collect from your local pharmacy if you need any medications.

Call VirtualMed Iowa or book a telehealth appointment online today for expert acute care.