Years before Dr. Jlyn Pritchard established the Kinwell Primary Care Virtual Care Clinic, she was an early proponent of online primary care (also known as telehealth). She treated patients over a secure internet connection long before the pandemic made the practice commonplace. “Back in 2017, I was in a private practice and keenly interested in the progression of healthcare as it tried to blend technological advances with patient care. I started seeing patients virtually then and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Telehealth offers a more accessible care option
Patients can use virtual care much like in-person primary care—to be treated for an immediate concern, receive ongoing care for chronic conditions, or serve as their regular provider. For patients who regularly visit one of Kinwell’s 16 clinics, virtual care offers a convenient scheduling option. The main difference for patients is the occasional need to visit a local clinic for lab tests when they don’t see their clinician in person. For providers, virtual care means they are able to see patients from all over Washington who call in from home or work.
Kinwell Virtual Care Clinic improves rural Washington healthcare
“My patients speckle every corner of the state,” said Pritchard. “Some have a clinic around the corner, others are hours away. They live in townhomes, apartments, and old farmhouses. I meet their kids, dogs, parakeets, and spouses. I see bedrooms, basements, and bruises.” A typical day for Pritchard might include an urgent consultation from a patient she’s never met before and a regular visit from patients she’s known for years. “One patient lives on the opposite side of Washington but calls me her PCP (primary care provider). She lives in a small mountain town where Kinwell doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar clinic. Because of the accessibility of virtual care, she doesn’t face the typical barriers of time off work and traffic jams.”
When to use the Kinwell Virtual Care Clinic
While patient locations vary, the variety of care delivered virtually is consistent with in-person primary care. Over the course of a typical day, Dr. Pritchard will treat both immediate concerns and chronic conditions. Here are some scenarios we’ve seen in the past.
1. You live in rural Washington, and the nearest clinic is too far
For a farmer from a small town with limited access to medical care, Dr. Pritchard was able to address some chronic issues and recommend a home blood-pressure cuff. She will see him again in a month and a Kinwell nurse will check in with him about his blood pressure readings in a week.
2. Your schedule makes using public transit hard
A Texas transplant that lives in the San Juan Islands had chronic conditions treated and his acute concerns addressed with prescriptions sent to a nearby pharmacy. Because of the ferry schedule, it was difficult for him to miss work to attend medical appointments on the mainland.
3. You’re a parent and your kids take up most of your time
As a mom, Pritchard can understand the pressures of parenting toddlers. For a new parent experiencing depression, she scheduled them for an appointment with a Kinwell behavioral health clinician for counseling and skills-building.
4. You’re busy and need to fit in a quick appointment
A patient in Redmond was referred to Pritchard by another Kinwell clinician for a consultation about menopause hormone therapy. “She’s miserable with hot flashes and hasn’t been able to find adequate relief. We talk for about 40 minutes and came up with a plan to reduce her symptoms and make her more comfortable…one that works for both her schedule and her life.”
Kinwell is passionate about virtual care
Pritchard appreciates the ability to deliver care to patients when and where they need it “Kinwell’s virtual clinic is a joy. Throughout the day, I may see an Uber driver who has called between pick-ups, a physician who just got off the night shift, a patient seeking PReP (pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment for HIV), and a few itchy rashes.
Schedule your next appointment with the Kinwell Virtual Care Clinic
You can schedule a virtual care appointment at kinwellhealth.com, just make sure you select the Virtual Care Clinic as the location—it has an address listed, but it is totally virtual. You can also schedule an appointment by calling 833-411-5469. Established Kinwell patients can schedule through their MyChart account.
