Jefferson Health’s telemedicine program, JeffConnect, got a new feature called On-Demand Virtual Care, which allows patients to connect with an emergency medicine physician via computers and mobile devices. Through the JeffConnect On-Demand Virtual Care app — available for iOS and Android — physicians are able to diagnose and recommend treatment for non-emergent issues like stomach aches, cold and flu, infections, or identify whether a patient needs to seek further treatment.

“When you’re not sure if what you’re experiencing requires a trip to the hospital, you can call us. We’ll either be able to treat you virtually, or offer other options that may be more convenient for you than an emergency department visit,” said Judd Hollander, M.D., Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Dean for Strategic Health Initiatives.

Currently, physicians are accessible from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the hours will be extended to 24 hours a day, seven days a week beginning September 21st. The service is available for use in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, though patients do not need to be a resident of those states. Physicians can write necessary prescriptions for patients using the app in Philadelphia and Delaware.

The cost for a physician’s visit via the On-Demand Care App is $49.