How One Mom Found a Lifeline in Virtual Care

When Johannah Strandjord's five-year-old son Nash began showing signs of another sinus infection just before a holiday, she knew what was coming. After nearly two years of battling chronic sinusitis, she could sense a flare-up and she needed a prescription before they left for their vacation. But with his primary care provider out of town and no clinic appointments available, she faced a familiar parental dilemma: wait it out or scramble for urgent care.

Instead, she turned to a solution that's become a game-changer for her family, virtual care. She decided to use CentraCare's eClinic, a service that has been offered to our patients for over 11 years.

"I logged on and we did an eClinic visit," Strandjord said. "It took about six minutes to type everything in. I loved that it had a notes option so I could add what prescription had worked for him before."

Within 15 minutes, a provider reviewed her submission, confirmed the sinus infection, and prescribed the same medication that had helped Nash previously. But what impressed her most was the follow-through. The provider sent a note to Nash's primary care doctor to keep them in the loop.

"That kind of communication and care really went above and beyond," she said.

Strandjord, a self-described "frequent flyer" of our virtual care, used the service again recently. This time, it was for her two-year-old son, Rhett, who woke up with both eyes showing classic pink eye symptoms.

"eClinic has an option for pink eye. All I had to do was take a photo of his eyes and answer a few questions."

The convenience, she says, is unmatched. No waiting rooms, no juggling schedules, no dragging sick kids across town. Just a few clicks on her phone, and help is on the way.

Strandjord has also used CentraCare's Virtual Urgent Care, a video visit service we've offered for over three years.

One day last year, she picked Nash up from preschool and noticed a strange rash on his face, hands and feet, followed by a fever and complaints of foot pain.

So, she opened her MyChart account, clicked on Virtual Urgent Care and saw several time slots available. She chose one and was notified when it was time to join the video call.

"The provider took one look and said it was hand, foot and mouth," she recalls. "She sent follow-up notes, I picked the prescription at our local pharmacy, and I was done in about 20 minutes. So much easier than dragging both of my kids to urgent care."

For parents who may be hesitant about using virtual care, especially when it involves sharing personal health information, Strandjord understands the concern. She had her own reservations at first.

"One of the things I was hesitant about was sharing personal data, especially for my kids," she admits. "But since they added two-factor authentication, I feel completely confident. I know the information is only being seen by the provider and anyone I give permission to."

For her, virtual care has become more than just a convenience, it's a trusted part of her family's healthcare routine.

As virtual care continues to expand, stories like Strandjord's highlight the real-world benefits of digital health solutions. Learn more about CentraCare's virtual care options check out this video to see which option is right for you!