Achoo! It's cold and flu season, which means as people gather, they'll be susceptible to illness as germs spread.

To minimize this risk, cover your cough, wash your hands, stay home if you're sick, and keep your vaccinations up to date.

If you start experiencing symptoms and need to seek care, WellSpan has convenient non-emergency department virtual care options, so you can receive high quality care in the comfort of your home.

Dr. Umar Razzaq is a physician at WellSpan Family Medicine in Greencastle and sees many of his patients through a virtual connection.

Here are some insights he shared.

Q: How can virtual visits help? 
Virtual visits make it easy to get care quickly from any location with an internet connection using a computer, tablet or smartphone. It’s more convenient for a person who may have flu-type symptoms to stay home while getting the care they need. Nobody wants to leave the house when they feel sick.
This option also can be a great help to anyone who doesn’t have access to transportation.

Q: What is the difference between a virtual visit and virtual on-demand care?
Virtual visits are scheduled during office hours with your provider. Virtual on-demand care is available 24/7 with a board-certified doctor
WellSpan primary care providers can see the notes from a virtual on-demand visit, so they can stay up to date with their patients.

Q: What conditions, illnesses or injuries are appropriate for virtual visits?
A virtual visit, as opposed to seeking care in a hospital emergency department, can be most convenient and beneficial for someone whose symptoms are limited to experiencing high blood pressure, feeling like they have a cold or and flu, asthma, headaches or allergies. If a patient is prescribed a medication and needs to follow up with a provider, a virtual visit can be scheduled quickly.
Use our interactive symptom checker to learn more about your medical symptoms and get connected with the WellSpan care option that is best for you. (how do they access this?)
If, however, you think you (or your child) may have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately or consult your doctor.
If someone has an injury, it would be more appropriate to schedule an in-person appointment or visit your local urgent care.

Q: Why should a patient use a primary care or virtual visit rather than urgent care or emergency department visits for non-urgent needs?
Patients can typically be seen much quicker by a provider when scheduling a virtual appointment rather than waiting for an in-person visit, especially at this time of year. I encourage anyone who needs help quickly, but non-urgently, to consider scheduling a virtual visit with their provider. It helps us help more patients as well.

Q: How can you schedule a virtual appointment?
Virtual visits can be scheduled by visiting wellspan.org or downloading the MyWellSpan app to log in to your MyWellSpan account. Patients can also call their provider’s office and request a virtual appointment. A virtual on-demand care visit can be scheduled here.

Find the right care you need at the right time. That's why we're here. Let us help you find the right care option for your symptoms. Visit WellSpan.org/GetCareNow.