January 15, 2021
The fastest path to care
Available 24/7 with no appointment, e-visits offer Kaiser Permanente members quick, convenient online care for many health concerns such as flu or COVID-19 symptoms.
Members can complete an online e-visit at kp.org/getcare to get screened for COVID-19, treated for symptoms, and scheduled for a diagnostic test in many areas.
“First choice for care.” “Reassuring.” “Simple to use.”
These words are how Kaiser Permanente members have described their experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when they’ve turned to e-visits to receive care and advice for common conditions from the safety of their homes.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise and we are being asked to stay safe and stay home as much as possible, e-visits stand out as a convenient, easy, and fast path to care and advice for people experiencing flu and COVID-19 symptoms.
How e-visits work
Members can complete an e-visit in minutes — online, with no appointment required — to be screened for COVID-19 and treated for symptoms, if necessary. Members can also complete an e-visit to request or schedule a COVID-19 diagnostic test in many areas. E-visits can also be used to receive treatment, advice, and prescriptions for many common conditions such as cold and flu symptoms, rashes, urinary tract infections, pink eye, and more depending on the member’s age, location, and medical history.
“It is important to get the care you need if you don’t feel well this winter or are concerned you might have the flu or COVID-19,” said Brad Schwartz, MD, an emergency room physician who helped develop the e-visit protocols. “For Kaiser Permanente members, e-visits can provide the shortest route to quality care.”
To start an e-visit, our members can sign in to kp.org or the Kaiser Permanente app at any time during the day or night. After selecting the e-visit option, members are guided through a short series of questions about their symptoms and concerns.
Based on the answers, the member will immediately receive personalized self-care advice, which may include educational materials and videos or a recommendation for over-the-counter medications. If a prescribed medication is recommended, the member will receive a prescription from a clinician during regular business hours via email, usually within 2 to 4 hours of the e-visit.
In some cases, the member will be instructed to schedule an in-person, video, or telephone appointment. E-visit responses become part of a member’s secure electronic health record, helping to ensure better, easier, and safer follow-up care.
It is important to get the care you need if you don’t feel well this winter or are concerned you might have the flu or COVID-19. — Brad Schwartz, MD
Other care options
If an e-visit isn’t available for a health concern, or for people who prefer a different option, video and phone appointments are a safe, easy, and convenient way to get the same high-quality care as you would during an in-person visit. During a virtual appointment, clinicians can securely access a member’s medical history, prescribe medications, order lab tests and imaging, and refer members for additional care as needed.
Kaiser Permanente members can also email their doctor’s office with nonurgent questions or call our appointment and advice line to speak with a licensed care provider day or night. In some areas, members can chat online with a clinician about symptoms and concerns. For members who need to be seen in person, our facilities have implemented many safety precautions, such as requiring masks and physical distancing, following enhanced cleaning protocols, and more.
For more information on e-visits and other care options, visit kp.org/getcare.
