Top 5 Digital Health stories of 2025

Digital health continues to reshape how people connect with care — breaking down barriers of distance, time and access in ways that were once unimaginable. In 2025, those advances moved from promise to practice, with new technologies helping patients get care faster and using data to make more informed decisions. OSF HealthCare, through its OSF OnCall digital health arm, has been able to reach communities that have long been underserved. From artificial intelligence and virtual care to immersive technologies and smarter data use, OSF OnCall continued to push health care forward.

These are the Top 5 digital health stories of 2025, in no particular order.

From crisis to confidence: Patient praises new OSF 24/7 primary care – Marci Schneider Batsakis of Orland Park, Illinois was the first patient enrolled in OSF CompleteCare 55+, a new hybrid model of primary care in Evergreen Park, using virtual visits and digital connections to help older people get fast access to providers and stay on top of their health. Schneider Batsakis called the round-the-clock care team number when her blood pressure became dangerously high and that led to timely treatment in the hospital, follow-up support, and a care plan tailored to her needs.

OSF HealthCare receives $1.5 million for new mobile pregnancy and postpartum care unit An OSF OnCall Connect mobile van will offer doorstep service as an extension for women on Medicaid enrolled in a pregnancy and postpartum digital support program. Meridian and Centene Foundation provided $1.5 million in funding for the van to operate in maternity deserts in 12 Illinois counties.

OSF HealthCare offers another layer of monitoring for moms and babies – OSF HealthCare launched 24/7 virtual labor monitoring to enhance in-person care with AI technology. AI software alerts OSF OnCall Acute OB nurses to potential risks, enabling quick coordination with staff at Family Birthing Centers at hospitals across the OSF HealthCare Ministry. This is part of a broader effort to reduce mortality rates among women and babies which remain high compared to other wealthy nations. As part of that effort, we also opted to extend to all patients in the I-80 region, regardless of payor, a Medicaid program for virtual visits and digital support. The area has lost a number of OBGYN providers.

Skip the wait with new OSF OnCall virtual exam visit – OSF OnCall Urgent Care walk-in clinics can get busy, especially during the winter with respiratory viruses. So OSF HealthCare installed new technology in urgent care clinics, allowing patients to do in-office virtual visits and bypass the waiting room. Visitors to the OSF OnCall Urgent Care can get accurate testing and diagnoses using digital tools and an on-screen OSF medical provider.

OSF HealthCare using virtual ER to cut patient wait times – OSF HealthCare is using an innovative approach to help reduce wait times in the emergency departments at OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa and Peru. Patients who meet certain criteria will be given the option to divert to a virtual medical exam through the use of advanced technology and an onsite nurse.

Top 5 OSF Innovation stories of 2025

As we kick off a new year at OSF HealthCare, we’re looking back at 2025 and the big steps we took to make it easier for patients to access care and health information. Working alongside our academic and business partners, we continued to tap into shared expertise and use artificial intelligence in thoughtful, responsible ways — always guided by what’s fair, appropriate, valid, effective and safe (FAVES).

Those efforts are reflected in our Top 5 OSF Innovation stories of 2025, listed in no particular order.

OSF HealthCare named one of America’s Most Innovative Companies – Fortune recognized OSF for its innovation culture and forward-thinking approach, highlighting digital and AI-driven advancements transforming care delivery. OSF first received this distinction in 2023.

OSF Innovation brings VR beating hearts to life for safer surgeries – Thanks to a breakthrough at OSF Innovation, surgeons can “see” their patient’s heart beating in 3D before ever stepping into the operating room. For surgeons, the benefits are game-changing. They can see not only the anatomy but also how it changes with every beat. This is especially critical for conditions such as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, where the problem lies in how the heart contracts. Even more surprising, the AI began rendering valves — structures notoriously difficult to see on CT scans.

An OSF inventor collaborates to help kids play safely through cancer – Exercise physiologist Nick Kemp collaborated with OSF Innovation Studio to design Port Guard that protects the central venous access port for kids with cancer who want to play and stay active. Seven-year-old Amaneigh Stevenson, pediatric cancer patient, was part of testing and declared, “It makes me feel safe. I love it a lot.”

OSF developing app to diagnose migraines sooner and more accurately – For millions of people living with migraine headaches, getting the proper diagnosis can take years, sometimes even decades. A new digital tool developed by a team at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) and OSF HealthCare aims to change that by helping primary care and other first-contact healthcare providers to identify patients with migraine quickly and accurately.

Decoding your DNA to prevent disease – Using innovative genetic testing, OSF HealthCare stepped farther into personalized medicine in 2025, with a pilot to allow people to be tested with just a swab of their cheek for genetic mutations to determine if someone is at high risk of any of 10 major diseases. So called polygenic testing is not yet covered by insurance but for someone with a a family history of heart disease, cancer or Alzheimer’s, this $250 test could provide some early warning signs and better yet, early intervention.

As the respiratory virus season kicks into high gear, virtual urgent care is a great option.  

Instead of having to wait until a walk-in clinic opens, OSF OnCall offers virtual care options that are available 24/7 year-round, including holidays and weekends. Some of issues that can be handled virtually include colds, stuffy or runny nose, cough, headache, sore throat, fever, or muscle aches, urinary tract infections, bites and stings, fatigue, upset stomach, pink eye, rashes.

If you are having difficulty breathing, that’s a medical emergency and you should go straight to the Emergency Department.

Kate Barth, vice president/chief nursing officer for On-Demand Services, OSF OnCall, says consumers want health care options that are convenient, like what they’re used to experiencing with online shopping and banking. That’s why OSF offers lower-cost, easy virtual urgent care options, especially when a minor illness or injury happens after hours.

“It’s the mom with multiple children who are sleeping and (she thinks) ‘I have a sick kiddo who I cannot console and what do I do?’ Seeking out virtual urgent care in those options is such a great opportunity to connect with a provider who typically would serve you in that urgent care setting,” says Barth.

For a flat fee, you can choose an online interview, or a video visit and you’ll be connected with the same experienced providers you’d see during an in-person visit to an OSF OnCall Urgent Care clinic.

Individuals who want to virtually access OSF OnCall Urgent Care can select an online interview (taking between 5-15 minutes), where they’re asked a series of questions about symptoms and how they’re feeling. Their information will be reviewed within an hour. Using a chat feature, additional information could be requested before an OSF HealthCare provider offers a treatment plan. 

If a provider needs to visualize something, a video visit is also available.

Barth says, “Maybe the provider would need to visualize the bug bite or something that looks like a rash, so we do have that video option also available to be able to assess that situation and be able to give a diagnosis in that case as well.”

If treatment requires medication, a prescription can be sent to the pharmacy of the individual’s choice.

What happens if the online consult or video visit reveals someone needs to be seen in-person?

“We all know there are things that sometimes can’t be virtually treated,” says Barth. “Sometimes a lab test may be needed, or a hands-on assessment might be needed to confirm a diagnosis. In that case, we simply refund that virtual visit knowing that it is best-case scenario for you to be seen in an actual urgent care setting.”

For example, sprains and strains can usually be assessed virtually, but broken bones can only be confirmed through an X-ray, which is available at an OSF OnCall Urgent Care walk-in location.

You can find more information or start a virtual visit anytime at osfoncall.org.

Kate Barth

B-roll-OSF OnCall Virtual Urgent Care 

OSF HealthCare will host the 2025 OSF OnCall Digital Health Symposium on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center in Peoria, one of the largest simulation and innovation centers in the world, at 1306 N. Berkeley Ave. in Peoria, Illinois.

The all-day event will showcase the transformative power of digital innovation in health care, featuring engaging sessions, networking opportunities and insights from national leaders in the field.

A highlight of the symposium will be keynote Kyle Zebley, senior vice president of Public Policy, with the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). He will explore how ATA Action and the Center of Digital Excellence (CODE) are driving policy change to ensure telehealth and digital care are recognized as essential infrastructure.

The keynote session, “Navigating the Path to Permanent Digital Health Policy: From Telehealth to Digital-Native Care Models”, will set the stage for discussions about how health systems, policymakers and innovators can collaborate to advance digital health.

Breakout sessions will highlight real-world applications of digital solutions, including:

• Transforming the Patient Room: Advancing Care Through hellocare.ai Smart Technology
• Connected Care: Leveraging Virtual Programs for Post-Hospitalization Support
• Seeds of Change: Growing a Quality Virtual Nursing Program
• Transforming the Future of Primary Care with OSF CompleteCare 55+

Plus, join us for:

·         An opportunity to tour a smart tech hospital room and the OnCall Connect Pregnancy and Postpartum mobile clinic

“Pending legislation seeks to codify the widely used waivers that have allowed for broader access to telehealth, including originating from patients' homes and by a wider range of providers, and to address other telehealth-related provisions,” says Jennifer Junis, president of OSF OnCall. “The ATA and OSF HealthCare are partners in the advocacy effort, and we look forward to highlighting our strategy and progress.”

The event will run from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. and includes breakfast, lunch and networking with health care innovators, clinicians and industry partners.

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team. Learners will receive 5.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change. 

In support of improving patient care, Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Registration is open through 11:45 a.m. on November 5, 2025.
For details and to register, visit: OSF OnCall Digital Health Symposium Registration.

Event Location:
Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center
1306 N. Berkeley Ave.
Peoria, Illinois

This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive contact hours through Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) for professional development. Final credit hours are pending.

Register NOW.

No one wants to go to a hospital emergency department (ED), but sometimes, there’s no avoiding it.

As OSF HealthCare joins other health systems struggling with staffing shortages, it is also seeing patients without access to primary care showing up in emergency rooms and facing long waits for less serious health issues. To meet the challenge of long wait times, OSF is turning to virtual technology to move patients through their ED experience more efficiently.

Anyone coming into the hospital emergency department at OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in either Peru or Ottawa, Illinois will be triaged to determine the seriousness of their condition or injury. Patients who qualify for this time saving option for care will be taken to one of our virtual care rooms where a nurse helps establish a video connection and assists the patient with any hands-on equipment needed for a video visit with the virtual provider.

“Our virtual physician will be able to do an assessment of each patient virtually, through the use of advanced technology and the onsite nurse. They will develop an appropriate treatment plan, coordinate prescriptions, and a follow up care plan,” says Dawn Trompeter, president of OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. “We want to offer a better experience for everyone, and qualified patients can be seen more quickly and get on the road to recovery.”

Studies also reveal prolonged emergency department wait times and length of a visit reduces quality care and increases adverse events for patients with serious illnesses. “So, the goal with introducing this new model is to improve patient care as well as our patients’ experience,” Trompeter stresses.

The virtual emergency care area is located within the hospital emergency department and includes a mobile cart equipped with two-way audio and video capabilities, making it easy to have a conversation with the remote medical provider. The mobile units have high-resolution cameras to observe symptoms or injuries more closely.

A nurse or medical staff member will assist with completing the patient assessment using the advanced digital tools on the mobile units that allow the virtual doctor to hear a patient’s breath and cardiac sounds or look more closely into the patient’s eyes and ears, just as they would do if they were physically in the room.

“We will work together to take care of patients with the same high standard of care given by our in-person physicians,” says Benjamin Kemp, MD, the lead physician for virtual emergency care.

If at any time the care team thinks someone needs to be seen in person by a doctor, they can be immediately transferred to the traditional ED.

“If a patient requires care that is too complex for virtual interaction, we will easily and seamlessly work with the in-person team to get the great care patients deserve,” Dr. Kemp emphasizes.

OSF is using several innovative approaches to reduce ED wait times and improve the overall experience, including using virtual behavioral health clinicians to make sure people with mental health issues are seen within the target goal of one hour. Additionally, research is underway to see if predictive modeling using artificial intelligence can help match staffing with surge times.

B-roll of Virtual ED

Marci Schneider Batsakis of Orland Park, Illinois never imagined when she enrolled in a new type of primary care that offers 24/7 digital access that she would be using it the first weekend.

Schneider Batsakis was the first patient to enroll in mid-June in OSF CompleteCare 55+. The service offers around-the-clock digital support, plus virtual and in-person care at its new clinic at 99^th and Western in south suburban Evergreen Park. She liked the idea of coordinated care that was connected to a hospital system.

“I wanted my care to be coordinated in a more organic way. I wanted my doctors to have privileges at the same hospital, have a passing recognition of each other, so that I knew I truly had a team working with me.”

OSF Complete Care 55+ is operated by OSF HealthCare, a 17-hospital system that includes OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park. OSF CompleteCare 55+, focuses on patients who are 55 or older and experiencing two or more ongoing health conditions. For Schneider Batsakis, that’s high blood pressure and arthritis.

High blood pressure was the issue six days after first enrolling. The retired nurse knew something was wrong and sure enough, her blood pressure was extremely and dangerously high. Schneider Batsakis used the OSF CompleteCare 55+ 24/7 care team phone number, and an advanced practice registered nurse listened to her symptoms and immediately told her, “Either you call an ambulance, or I will.”

Schneider Batsakis said she needed that clear advice and was glad she could get it at 11:30 on a Saturday morning. She spent that night in the hospital where she received tests and was monitored.

“I'm fine now, but had he not told me what to do, I might have spent the next hour trying to figure out if I really wanted to do it. Should I be calling someone to drive me to the hospital? So, it really was exactly what I needed.”

Schneider Batsakis jokes that her daughters have degrees from Google university and in this case, they were glad their mom had someone to call and get great, reliable advice. She has also given them, as medical power of attorneys, the 24/7 care team phone number.

Schneider Batsakis’ follow-up at OSF CompleteCare 55+ was the Monday morning following the weekend health emergency.

Schneider Batsakis shares. "What CompleteCare offered me was a place to come in on that Monday, admit that I was scared, talk about my concerns, and I felt like they [her concerns] were listened to. I felt like I was validated, and we sat and came up with a plan of care that's right for me.”

Part of her care plan will include a referral to a registered dietitian because while in the hospital, she was tested for diabetes, and her A1C, a measurement average blood sugar levels over time, was a bit high.

Schneider Batsakis welcomes the referral and says she's pleased to get expert advice on how to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

The newly built OSF CompleteCare 55+ clinic features 12 exam rooms, on-site labs, and extended hours. Features were developed through listening sessions with the older adult community on Chicago’s south side and southwest suburbs to hear what care the community wanted.

Managing medical director Sandy Valino Stock, DO, says future plans include group visits for education. OSF CompleteCare 55+ offers at-home digital monitoring tools and devices that allow 24/7 support. The clinic also features a Connect Bar, an area of the lobby where care navigators help patients get connected to OSF MyChart, messaging options and to make appointments with specialists.

Schneider Batsakis looks forward to feeling a part of a community and to getting the care where and when she needs it. The active suburban resident also encourages those 55 years and beyond to consider enrolling so they can experience a new level of access and a more personalized approach to care.

“Especially if you’re a woman who no longer needs your OB/GYN and you’ve been using urgent care as your primary care; this is where you need to be. The community of people understand that we are not youngsters. They understand what’s going on with us. They’re looking at our age and our concerns and helping us be the best that we can be as we move forward.”

Here's the website for more information, including frequently asked questions or to get started with OSF CompleteCare 55+.  

Marci Schneider Batsakis

B-roll-OSF CompleteCare 55+ patient story

Travis Jones, DPT, OCS, MBA, and an OSF Mission Partner (employee) learned about the power of data while getting his master’s degree in business administration. While concentrating on business analytics Jones thought about how data could apply to his job as a physical therapist and soon he was working with the OSF Innovation Studio team to build an AI-backed platform that can be used to help health care employers identify job risks and speed review of injury assessments in workers’ compensation cases.

That’s important because, according to Jones, nurses and CNAs are injured on the job more than any other profession in the U.S. — even more than construction workers. RNs suffer over 20,000 work-related injuries each year serious enough to miss work. One back injury can cost a hospital $30,000+ in direct costs alone, not including lost productivity, overtime, or turnover.

Jones’ platform and company Health Shift AI uses advanced algorithms and historical data analysis, built on licensed intellectual property from OSF HealthCare, to identify risks on day one of workplace incidents in a health care setting to prevent chronic injuries. It also ensures the person injured gets a quick assessment.

“So really, one of our biggest goals is improving the access, so that way people can have access to rehab programs almost immediately when the injury occurs, which then can help reduce costs down the line from those issues not becoming chronic issues, and by getting really to the root of the problem quickly.”

By using his platform, Jones estimates health care systems could see a 30% reduction in the current annual claim costs, which can easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for large hospitals.  He also believes it could likely lower workers’ compensation premiums.

Jones explains he developed his algorithm by looking at crucial data points.

“We look at things like job type, we look at age, we look at what the individual was doing when they were injured, what body region was injured, what type of injury it was. And then also we can look at the descriptions of the incident that happened. And we can generate insights from those as well.”

The platform analyzes historical workers' comp data to prioritize physical therapy for at-risk employees, aiming to improve recovery time and reduce employer costs. But it also offers a personalized approach for injured workers.

“That computer vision model can then identify potential faulty movement patterns that may increase risk of injury. And then it provides that individual with customized exercise programs, education; things they can do to address those faulty movement patterns to reduce their injury risk.”

There might be other companies that provide virtual physical therapy, but Jones says his digital platform is the most integrated solution available for employers – evaluating workplace risk, plus proactively identifying and addressing movement risks using AI-powered personalized assessments and educational resources.

OSF Innovation Studio provided Jones with guidance, coaching, and connections to help him refine his idea, understand the market potential, and ultimately develop a software solution that could be licensed to a startup. Jones’ efforts with Health Shift AI are currently self-funded and include support from family and friends.

Used AI to help develop the software

He used AI to help him write code to develop his software, saving time and money because he didn’t have to hire a software engineer. And as an OSF Mission Partner, he received input and support in that area from OSF Innovation Studio.

Kip McCoy, vice president, Innovation Studio says Jones is an enthusiastic entrepreneur, and he maximized the help available.

“There are a lot of resources in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem that are available. So, what we’ve tried to do is to get him tied into or connected to a lot of those that are at the disposal of various start-ups in the Peoria area.”

That includes Distillery Labs in Peoria where Joes participated in gALPHA class last September. He says exposure to others’ struggles and mentors who have been successful entrepreneurs really helped. Additionally, he also connected with Enterprise Works, and the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps™ program.

His company, Health Shift AI, has since licensed the software he developed at OSF HealthCare.

Other aspects that are not part of the licensing agreement include self-guided recovery access -- personalized recovery programs and progress tracking through the digital platform.

Jones established his company in Peoria, Illinois and plans to keep it here. Next steps are to work on a pilot within OSF HealthCare that utilizes all aspects of the platform. Jones also sees a market for his Health Shift AI in manufacturing and is testing the software with a window manufacturer and distributor.

McCoy says Health Shift AI is a success story that reminds OSF HealthCare Mission Partners that if they have an idea, the OSF Innovation Studio team is ready to assist.

“We can help you think through that, look at different opportunities, see what resources we can have available to help you just better craft or focus in on where the potential opportunity or the need might be that can help move it (your idea) forward.”

OSF Mission Partners can begin their journey toward potentially developing their solution by filling out an idea submission form online here.

Travis Jones

Kip McCoy

B-roll of Health Shift AI

The new care model is focused on individuals who are looking for a more personalized way to stay on top of their own health. We understand adults may be juggling the care of aging parents or grandchildren or both, managing work schedules or just generally navigating busy daily calendars, that often result in deprioritizing their own office visit. The service focuses on easy communication, self-scheduling, navigation and 24/7 support. During a construction update for the 6,300-square-foot building at 9858 S. Western Ave., in Evergreen Park, leaders outlined specifics about the modern look and feel of the clinic, along with what patients can expect from this new primary care model designed specifically to meet the needs of 55+ health consumers.

The unique service will include:

• The ability to choose how you access the care – whether that’s in person at the clinic, virtual or in your home
•  A care navigator who will be available to help guide care across the continuum with things like insurance questions or specialty care coordination
•  Remote patient monitoring which provides blood pressure cuff, scales, oxygen monitoring, and much more in your home that integrates into our medical records to ensure our care team can provide more consistent monitoring to proactively manage the chronic condition
• Group visit to provide education and support around chronic conditions as we know having support is key to success

The new clinic will feature:

• Lobby area with coffee bar, fireplace and USB plug-ins
• A Connect Bar for education where navigators will help patients set up Bluetooth wearables or communication device
• 10 exam and treatment rooms equipped for virtual visits
• Education room for group visits for education, device training, condition tracking and management
• Family consult room for private discussions that can include extended family or support individuals

“Many people 55+ are beginning to manage chronic conditions – such as diabetes, heart problems, or arthritis - and often more than one. For people in this phase of their life, OSF is excited to bring a new, proactive approach to care that gives patients multiple opportunities to access treatment and support,” OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center President Kathleen Kinsella stressed. She added, “While this building will be the physical location, this primary care program will extend beyond these walls by incorporating a mix of virtual care, digital health monitoring tools and 24/7 access to your care team.”

National Institutes of Health Research shows more than one-third of caregivers continue to provide intense care to others while suffering from poor health themselves. This highlights the importance of providing easier options for staying on top of chronic conditions for this 55+ population.

This new program is a unique collaboration between OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center and OSF OnCall, the digital arm of OSF HealthCare which has delivered convenient and custom digital health solutions to individuals for more than 10 years. 

 “At the forefront of this model are our care navigators who offer a genuine point of contact for patients, helping to coordinate all the patients’ health needs,” said Kate Barth, chief nursing officer and vice president, On-Demand Services, OSF OnCall. “Navigators pull in resources from a multidisciplinary care team to personalize the care experience and help patients choose the care that best fits their lifestyle, whether it be a virtual visit with a specialist, a primary care appointment right here in this building or setting up remote monitoring tools in a patient’s home to regularly check vitals.”

The clinic construction will take several months with a planned opening in spring of 2025.

Video clips with Kate Barth and Kathleen Kinsella

OSF OnCall Senior Vice President Jennifer Junis has been named to the American Telemedicine Association’s newly formed Leadership Council to facilitate collaborative problem-solving and expedite practical solutions to today’s health care challenges.

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) is a broad and inclusive member network working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate digital care into emerging value-based delivery models of care.

OSF HealthCare has been a member of the American Telemedicine Association for more than 10 years. The association has been a resource as the Peoria, Illinois-based health system built its OSF OnCall digital health platform to expand access to care, particularly to vulnerable communities.

“I believe the future of health care keeps patients at the center of new models that provide expanded access to high quality, lower-cost care to improve individuals’ health and wellness, and therefore their quality of life,” said Jennifer Junis, senior vice president OSF OnCall.  “I’m excited to be among dedicated professionals committed to tackling the biggest challenges facing telehealth, uncovering new opportunities while keeping momentum strong and bipartisan support high.”  

OSF OnCall recently shared its journey to create a digital health arm at the ATA’s Nexus 2024 conference in Phoenix, Arizona. A system spotlight presentation and a high-profile, interactive exhibit showcased many OSF OnCall digital care programs.

“We were honored to share the challenging but exciting journey we’ve taken to capitalize on new technology and partnerships to enhance access, improve outcomes, and foster a culture of proactive health care management,” Junis said of the experience.

ATA Leadership Council members will meet twice a year to help prepare their organizations for emerging developments and best practices that will enhance efforts to expand telehealth.

American Telemedicine Association CEO Ann Mond Johnson says members are committed to creating evidence and building trust in health care and telehealth, and to using telemedicine to eliminate disparities in health care.

“OSF OnCall demonstrates how telehealth can be done and in fact, that it can be done. So, it represents how health systems can meet patients where they are, which is what we’re trying to do as an industry,” said Mond Johnson. “I’m so pleased to have Jennifer’s experience on the Leadership Council to help us drive policy and efforts that can help others achieve what OSF has been able to accomplish.”

Your toddler spent the day in the pool and now has a weird rash that’s kept her up all night. You’re feeling a familiar pain, and you just know it’s a urinary tract infection but you’re leaving for vacation in the morning.

These are typical summertime scenarios, and instead of having to wait until a walk-in clinic opens, OSF OnCall Urgent Care offers virtual care options that are available 24/7 year-round, including holidays and weekends. 

Kate Barth, vice president/chief nursing officer for On-Demand Services, OSF OnCall, says consumers want health care options that are convenient, like what they’re used to experiencing with online shopping and banking, so OSF offers lower-cost, easy virtual urgent care options, especially when a minor illness or injury happens after hours.

“It’s the mom with multiple children who are sleeping and (she thinks) ‘I have a sick kiddo who I cannot console and what do I do?’ Seeking out virtual urgent care in those options is such a great opportunity to connect with a provider who typically would serve you in that urgent care setting.”

 AAA projects Independence Day travelers will set new records both nationwide and in Illinois. More than 70.9 million people around the U.S. are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home with 4.1 million being Illinoisans. Barth says if you’re away from home, no problem.

If there’s Wi-Fi, internet or a hotspot near a campsite or at a hotel, a video visit with an OSF OnCall provider could be more convenient than finding the nearest walk-in clinic.

Individuals who want to virtually access OSF OnCall Urgent Care can select an online interview (taking between 5-15 minutes) where they’re asked a series of questions about symptoms and how they’re feeling. Their information will be reviewed within an hour. Using a chat feature, additional information could be requested before an OSF HealthCare provider offers a treatment plan. 

“Maybe the provider would need to visualize the bug bite or something that looks like a rash, so we do have that video option also available to be able to assess that situation and be able to give a diagnosis in that case as well.”

If treatment requires medication, a prescription can be sent to the pharmacy of the individual’s choice.

What happens if the online consult or video visit reveals someone needs to be seen in-person?

“We all know there are things that sometimes can’t be virtually treated. Sometimes a lab test may be needed, or a hands-on assessment might be needed to confirm a diagnosis. In that case, we simply refund that virtual visit knowing that it is best-case scenario for you to be seen in an actual urgent care setting.”

For example, sprains and strains can usually be assessed virtually, but broken bones can only be confirmed through an X-ray, which is available at an OSF OnCall Urgent Care walk-in location.

Barth points out, those walk-in clinics also offer more than simple urgent care.

“Employee physicals or drug testing as well as those school and sports physicals that we always catch ourselves running behind on where at the last minute a child says, ‘I need this for tomorrow!’”

The cost of virtual care is less than an in-person visit. An online interview is $30 and a video visit, typically lasting between 15 to 25 minutes, is $60. OSF OnCall Urgent Care accepts a wide variety of insurance plans. Medicare patients are welcome to use an OSF OnCall Urgent Care option, however a virtual visit is not currently reimbursed.

Anyone experiencing a medical emergency or symptoms such as chest pain, breathing difficulty or severe abdominal pain should go directly to the nearest emergency department or call 9-1-1.

Video Clips of Kate Barth

B-roll of Virtual Urgent Care

Health systems, including OSF HealthCare, want the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend for five more years the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program to allow payment for at-home, hospital level care such as what’s being offered through OSF OnCall, the digital arm of OSF. The additional time would allow health systems to continue to build out logistics, supply chains and staffing and gather enough data to convince lawmakers at-home hospital care is safe, cost-effective and patients love it.

Paesani, who has COPD and a heart condition, was recently discharged from the OSF OnCall Digital Hospital program which she called, “an impossible dream.” She received regular in-person visits from a team of nurses who answered questions, took vitals, dispensed medication and made sure she had enough portable oxygen. An OSF OnCall provider overseeing her care checked in with virtual visits twice daily while Paesani enjoyed being home with her dog and having three meals delivered daily to her home from the hospital.

The one-time marketing coordinator lives alone but enjoyed her family being able stop by so easily each day without having to navigate parking decks and long walks down endless hospital hallways.

Robert Thornton, 78, of Belvidere just outside of Rockford spent five days receiving hospital-level care in the home he shares with his wife, Nancy. He had COVID and pneumonia, in addition to his COPD. His trip to the hospital was scary but his trip back home for a five-day stay in the Digital Hospital program was far better than he expected.

After passing both clinical and social screenings at the hospital, Thornton authorized the OSF OnCall team to set up all the equipment he would need at home to communicate and receive treatment. That includes a personal emergency response system which rings to the OSF OnCall Command Center for a nurse to respond to, triage and send an ambulance if necessary. Think of it as the call light in a hospital, only with someone monitoring it remotely at all times.

Thornton was visited by a field team of a nurse and nursing assistant, in addition to the twice-a-day virtual visits via a tablet that he didn’t even have to turn on and off.

“They came in three to four times a day to ensure that I took my medicine, that I had blood tests done, that I conversed with the main office via phone, and to give me my IVs and to see that everything went smoothly ... that I was progressing towards the final goal of being better.”

Navigating the equipment was easy for Thornton and his wife who recommend the program to anyone who qualifies. He points out a month ago, he was winded climbing just a few steps to get into his house. Now, he can manage that without a problem. His advice, “Just go for it.”

Care is safe and convenient for patients

Research to date shows patients in digital hospital programs recover faster, experience fewer falls and hospital acquired infections. OSF OnCall Digital Care Manager Melissa Meier, MSN, RN says the model also increases capacity to provide acute-care without additional costs. As patients are brought home, it frees up beds within the medical center for the most critically ill patients.

Courtney Dahnert, MSN, RN, supervisor of Clinical Digital Care for OSF OnCall Digital Hospital in Rockford, says the care team at the OSF OnCall Command Center will identify patients aged 18 and older who could be enrolled. Criteria includes their diagnosis, condition stability, whether their insurer offers coverage, and they must live within 30 minutes of OSF Saint Anthony.

Dahnert loves the return to a more personalized approach that includes Bluetooth enabled devices for patient-specific data which offer valuable insights into how the patient is doing, allowing proactive interventions. Personalized care plans for digital hospital patients are developed around individual routines – even must-see TV shows.

“It takes us back to being able to provide that really good care; getting to know someone even though we're only caring for them for two or three days and making their health relevant to them. And it gives us time to breathe. So it's an amazing opportunity for both the patient and the provider.”

OSF was the first provider of hospital-at-home care in Illinois and has served more than 400 patients since the program was launched in 2022 in Peoria. CMS is currently gathering comments about hospital-at-home and will make recommendations to Congress this fall about whether to extend the waiver program, make it permanent or end it. 

Video clips with patient Robert Thornton and  Courtney Dahnert 

B-roll of first OSF OnCall Digital Hospital patient in Rockford area