May 5, 2010, BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--HealthPartners, the nation's largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization, today announced plans to launch a new online convenience care service this fall.
The service, to be named Virtuwell, will provide online diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions. The custom-designed service will combine proven, trusted medical expertise with the convenience of 24/7 online access to care - including prescriptions if needed.
"Virtuwell is all about bringing more choices, affordable and easy-to-use options and high-quality health care," said Mary Brainerd, president and CEO. "As we've watched the popularity of our online care options grow in recent years, we've continued to develop new ways to help patients get the right care at the right time at the lowest-possible cost. We're excited about Virtuwell and what users will experience - a convenient, friendly and easy-to-use way to get better."
With Virtuwell, medical professionals will be available online - on demand and around the clock - to provide personalized diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and prescriptions for routine medical conditions such as cold, cough and allergy, ear pain, yeast and urinary tract infection, and others. Users will receive a rapid diagnosis and treatment plan at a lower cost than visiting a clinic.
HealthPartners expects to begin offering Virtuwell services this fall, at which time further details will be announced.
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the $3 billion HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of health care companies serves 1.25 million members and provides care to over 500,000 patients in our HealthPartners care delivery system which includes 70 clinics and three hospitals. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community. HealthPartners is among the top 25 commercial health plans in the nation and is the top-ranked plan in Minnesota according to U.S. News & World Report/NCQA "America's Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10."