Virtual Care Is Virtual Care — Right? Not Exactly.
Virtual primary care and virtual urgent care are easy to confuse. Here, we clarify the difference to ensure you always get the right care when you need it.
By Saint Francis Health System Staff
You've probably heard that you can see a doctor without leaving home. But there's more than one way to do that — and knowing the difference could save you time, money and frustration when you urgently need care.
Virtual primary care and virtual urgent care are both convenient. They're both done from your phone, tablet or computer. But they serve very different purposes, and choosing the right one matters.
Virtual Primary Care: Your Ongoing Relationship with a Doctor
Virtual primary care works just like traditional primary care — except your appointments happen online. You have a dedicated physician who knows your health history, manages your chronic conditions, orders labs and imaging when needed, and follows up with you over time.
It's ideal for:
- Routine checkups and preventive care
- Managing ongoing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
- Prescription refills and medication management
- Reviewing lab results together with your doctor
- Patients with busy schedules, mobility limitations or distance from a clinic
When labs or imaging are needed, your virtual primary care doctor will direct you to the nearest facility — and then meet with you online to go over the results together.
Virtual primary care through Warren Clinic requires a MyChart account. To get started, call Warren Clinic Well Connected at 918-488-6688 or visit MyChart to schedule.
Virtual Urgent Care: When You Need Help Now
Virtual urgent care is for when something comes up and you need to be seen — but it doesn't require a trip to the ER or urgent care clinic. No established relationship with a provider is required, and no MyChart account is needed to get started. You'll see an estimated cost before your visit begins.
It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can treat a wide range of common conditions including:
- Sore throat, cough or cold and flu symptoms
- Mild COVID-19 symptoms
- Fever or headache
- Ear pain or infection
- Eye irritation or pink eye
- Sinus or allergy issues
- Stomach or gastrointestinal issues
- Skin rash or insect bites
- Urinary tract infection
- Minor injuries, sprains and strains
One thing to keep in mind: wait times for a virtual urgent care visit may be longer than visiting an in-person urgent care location. If your situation feels time-sensitive, factor that in when deciding how to be seen.
Which One Do You Need?
A simple way to think about it:
- Ongoing care, checkups, chronic conditions → Virtual Primary Care
- Something came up today and you need to be seen → Virtual Urgent Care
- It's an emergency → Call 911 or go to the nearest ER
Both options bring quality care to wherever you are — no commute, no waiting room, no need to arrange transportation or childcare. The right choice just depends on what you need right now.
