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    Is Connect Care Right for Allergies, Minor Burns, Rashes, or Skin Infections?

    Is Connect Care Right for Allergies, Minor Burns, Rashes, or Skin Infections?

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    Allergic Symptoms

    Connect Care is a great place to get an evaluation for symptoms of seasonal allergies. Providers can discuss your symptoms and offer over-the-counter and prescription treatment options as needed. Note: If you are having a sudden allergic reaction due to a medication, food, or bug bite/sting, Connect Care is not the best place to be seen. Please go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation and treatment.

    RELATED: Allergy Season Questions Answered

    Minor burns, rashes, or skin infections

    A Connect Care visit is a great way to be evaluated for minor skin issues such as burns, rashes, or infections. After asking you questions to eliminate serious causes of your skin issue, your provider can view the affected area, make a diagnosis, and offer treatment. Using the camera on your computer, tablet, or smart phone, you can take a picture of your skin problem and send it to the provider prior to the visit (preferred) or you can show the area to the provider during the video visit. To help the provider get the best view of the skin problem, please make sure the picture has ample lighting and captures the best possible view of the affected area. If your rash, burn, or infection cannot be adequately or safely evaluated during a Connect Care visit, we can help get you to a provider than can see you in-person.

    RELATED: Talk to a Clinician

    Connect Care is not right for you if:

    You’re experiencing emergency symptoms

    Connect Care is not intended for treatment of emergency medical problems. The American College of Emergency Physicians identifies several important symptoms that should lead to evaluation in the closest emergency department. If you’re experiencing any of the following, please call 911 or go to the ER:

    • Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
    • Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting two minutes or more
    • Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
    • Changes in vision
    • Difficulty speaking
    • Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior, difficulty walking
    • Any sudden or severe pain
    • Uncontrolled bleeding
    • Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
    • Coughing or vomiting blood
    • Suicidal or homicidal feelings
    • Unusual abdominal pain

    You Need a Primary Care Provider or a Refill of a Prescription

    Connect Care is a great way to get care for urgent care issues, but taking care of chronic health issues (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, and others) is not our main focus, so our providers do not generally issue refills of long-term medications. If you are in need of a refill of your ongoing medications, please contact your regular provider. If you are new to the area or need a new primary care provider for any other reason, please visit our provider directory to find a caregiver in your area.

    You’re looking for pain medication or other controlled substances

    As a matter of law, healthcare providers cannot issue prescriptions for controlled substances without seeing the patient in person. Because Connect Care visits are conducted over video, our providers are strictly prohibited from issuing these sorts of prescriptions. Commonly used controlled substances include medications for pain (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, Norco, Percocet, Tramadol, etc.), anxiety/panic (alprazolam/Xanax, lorazepam/Ativan, clonazepam/Klonopin, diazepam/Valium etc.), and ADHD (Ritalin, Adderall, etc.). If you are in need of a refill of your ongoing medications, please contact your regular provider for refills. If you don’t have one, see the information above for help finding one.