Virtual Care
What to Expect with Virtual Care Appointments
Virtual visits allow you to stay in the safety and comfort of your home, while providing a real-time connection with your healthcare provider on a mobile device, phone or computer.
During your virtual care visit, you will:
- Talk with your provider
- Have your provider review your medical history, answer your questions, diagnose your symptoms, and prescribe medicines as needed
Types of Virtual Care Visits
Providers can see you virtually (through video or over the phone) for a variety of conditions that do not require an in-person appointment.
For phone visits, your provider will call you during your appointment window. For video visits, you will receive a link through text message or email.
How to Make an Appointment
Call your provider’s office or request an appointment online to get started. You can also contact your Baystate Health provider through the MyBaystate patient portal.
Current Baystate Health primary care patients can schedule doctor's appointments online with their primary care provider.
See the FAQ for information about medical conditions our providers can address using virtual care.
What to Expect in Your Video Visit
We have updated BH Connect so you’ll have an easier, improved experience. You will no longer need to register or download an app – instead, you will simply need to click on a link to join the video call.How it works:
You will receive a link directly from your provider (through text message or email) within the window of 15 minutes before or up to 15 minutes after your scheduled appointment time. Please only contact your provider’s office if you have not received your appointment link beyond 30 minutes of your scheduled appointment time.
Once you receive your link, please:
- Click on the link (sent via text or email)
- Type your name
- Click “Join” to start your appointment
- When your video visits starts, you'll see both yourself and your provider on screen as you do with tools like FaceTime or Skype. Your provider will see the same.
Please note: The BH Connect mobile app has been discontinued. We recommend deleting it from your mobile device.
Through MyBaystate, you can:
- Send secure messages and images to your providers
- Request appointments, including virtual care video visits
- Request prescription refills
- See lab and radiology results, medicines, health issues, allergies, vaccine records, and visit summaries
- Get answers to medical questions from our community outreach librarians
- Manage health information for family members /dependents
- Pay medical bills
Frequently Asked Questions
- I have a fever, cough, shortness of breath or concern for exposure of COVID-19.
- I feel sick and cannot leave home.
- My busy schedule is permitting me from making an in-office appointment.
- My provider is not available for an in-office appointment but I would like to seek urgent care from an alternate Baystate Health provider who has availability.
Virtual care visits will be used for patients who do not need a hands-on physical examination. When you schedule your appointment, we will help decide what type of appointment is best for your care.
Conditions that we can see you virtually for include:
- Cold, cough, sore throat, and flu
- Fever, body aches, and chills (for adult patients 65 years and younger)
- Bronchitis
- Sinus infection (sinusitis)
- Headache
- Pink eye or itchy eyes
- Painful urination
- Skin rash/ mole check
- Minor joint paints and sprains
- Diarrhea/constipation/indigestion
- Insect or tick bites
- Shoulder and back strains
- Seasonal allergies
- STD/STI (sexually transmitted diseases and infections)
- Vaginal infections
BH Connect can also be used for ordering lab work for work or school, and ordering screening for cholesterol or diabetes.
In an emergency, always call 911.
When you make a virtual appointment, you will now receive a link through text message or email – no app required.
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