Take care with you this summer: Virtual visits with CareNow®
Summer travel rarely leaves room for unexpected illnesses or medical issues: a sore throat in the middle of vacation, allergies that flare up after a long day outside or a child waking up not feeling well while you’re miles from home.
A little preparation goes a long way when minor health concerns arise on your trip. We're here to help when the unexpected happens, making summer travel a little easier.
Staying healthy when traveling this summer
Travel can take a toll on your routine in ways that are easy to overlook. Changes in sleep, hydration, diet and activity levels can all affect how you feel while you’re away from home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends simple precautions like drinking plenty of water, washing your hands regularly and protecting yourself from extreme heat to help lower the risk of common travel-related illnesses.
Those habits become especially important during busy summer travel days, when long hours outdoors, crowded airports and packed itineraries can increase the chances of dehydration, fatigue or respiratory illness.
Preparing before you leave can make travel easier
One of the best ways to avoid stress during a trip is to plan ahead for small problems before they happen. That might mean refilling prescriptions before you leave, packing medications in a carry-on bag or saving important health information on your phone so it’s easy to access if needed.
Travelers flying this summer may also want to review medication guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration before heading to the airport.
Planning ahead also includes thinking about how you would access care if someone in your group started feeling sick while traveling. Virtual urgent care options can be part of that plan.
What to do if you need urgent care when traveling
Instead of searching for a nearby clinic while trying to manage symptoms, CareNow's virtual visits allow you to connect with a provider from wherever you are. Whether you’re at a hotel, rental home or taking a break during a road trip, our telemedicine services make it easier to get care on your schedule.
Please note: CareNow virtual visits are available only to patients who are physically located within a U.S. state where CareNow offers virtual care at the time of their appointment. Virtual visits cannot be provided to patients who are traveling internationally or located outside the United States.
A virtual visit is a great option for:
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Allergies
- Pink eye
- Minor skin conditions
- Mild stomach issues
- Sinus pressure or sore throats
For families, virtual care for kids can also provide added convenience during travel, especially when symptoms appear after normal office hours or during busy vacation plans.
Scheduling a virtual urgent care visit
CareNow makes it simple to schedule and attend your virtual visit. Navigate to our virtual visits page and select the state based on your current location. From there, you can enter your preferred time, insurance and payment information, and necessary personal information for your visit. Note that available times for virtual visits vary by location, so make sure to check to see if the available times fit your needs.
Please note that you must be physically present in the state you select for your virtual visit, and you must be located within the United States during the appointment. Virtual care services are not available for patients connecting from outside the U.S.
Knowing when in-person care matters
Virtual care can be a convenient option for many minor illnesses, but it’s not the right fit for every situation.
Symptoms involving severe pain, difficulty breathing, possible fractures or worsening conditions should be evaluated in person. Urgent care clinics can often provide hands-on evaluation, imaging and additional testing when needed.
For any life-threatening emergency, patients should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Focus on your trip, plan for the “what ifs”
Summer travel should feel exciting, not stressful.
Having a plan for care before you leave, including access to virtual visits, can help you feel more prepared if minor health concerns interrupt your plans. Instead of spending valuable time searching for care in an unfamiliar place, you can stay focused on enjoying the people, places and moments that made the trip worth taking in the first place.
Why choose CareNow® urgent care?
If you need convenient care after hours or on the weekend, consider visiting your local CareNow® urgent care clinic. With more than 240 locations throughout the country, we are ready to see you when you need it most. We offer comprehensive and accessible healthcare through our extensive clinic network, convenient Web Check-In® service and Virtual Visits, making us a dependable option for your medical needs. Visit the CareNow locations webpage to find a clinic near you.