Care Connection: Cold, flu, and COVID-19
You’ve already had your flu shot and are heading into the season for sniffles. While the usual colds and flu are circulating, the slightest sore throat can cause instant anxiety.
We’re all at increased risk for COVID-19 infection as colder weather means more time spent indoors with others. The fact is, as healthcare workers, we are more vulnerable. We’re working hard to do our part, control what we can, and take all necessary precautions. WVU Medicine Care Connection is here to help.
WVU Medicine families enrolled in a WVU Medicine medical plan can seek treatment for a variety of conditions through this program, which offers a safe, contact-free alternative for getting the care you need, when you need it.
Care Connection offers healthcare resources for employees and their family members covered by a WVU Medicine medical plan through a secure connection via a smartphone, computer, or tablet. We’ll evaluate your symptoms and decide next steps, even during extended and weekend hours.
- Virtual visits treat acute, non-emergent, primary care needs, including coughs, colds, rashes, aches, and pains.
- E-visits allow you to complete a MyWVUChart questionnaire and get treated for a range of specific conditions.
- Nurse navigators offer immediate, expert advice with a simple phone call: 1-844-484-2360.
And, if you’ve had contact with a COVID-19 infected person, Care Connection works in tandem with WVU Medicine Employee Health to guide you along the right path.
Care Connection is a free program for you -- our team -- and the people who depend on you. It allows you to access care from anywhere, at any time, saving you time, money, and a trip to your provider’s office.
SEASONAL SELF-CARE TIPS
Get the shot. Be sure to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to you. Vaccines will be offered in stages to employees based on their role and risk. It is not known at this time when the vaccine will become available to the general public. Watch CONNECT and The Wright Stuff for details.
Don’t panic. Sometimes a cough is just a cold. Keep your cool, write down your symptoms, take your temperature, and talk with us for guidance.
Get your rest. We say it a lot, but it bears repeating. A regular good night’s sleep goes a long way in keeping yourself well.
Be a pro. You may be a WVU Medicine employee now, but you’ve been someone’s patient since the day you were born. If you’re worried you have COVID-19, you can use the WVU Medicine app to determine whether or not you should return to work or contact the Employee Health COVID-19 Hotline. Just click on the app's "Employee Portal" and login to access the "COVID-19 Employee Assessment."
Follow the guidelines. Stay vigilant about hand hygiene, wearing a mask, maintaining distance, and avoiding crowds when possible. Look at it this way: this season, you’re a step ahead for cold and flu prevention!