Ascension Launches National Online Care Platform to Increase Consumer Access to Care

Business Wire

Consumer Access Product is Supported with New National Marketing Campaign

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Ascension launched its national Ascension Online Care platform, giving consumers 24/7 access to the compassionate, personalized care they need – anytime, anywhere. Ascension Online Care (ascension.org/onlinecare) is an online urgent care that allows a patient to have a one-on-one video visit with a healthcare provider – using the device of their choice: a smartphone, tablet or laptop. The cost of a visit is $49 at the time of visit, can be paid using a credit card or HSA/FSA and does not require insurance.

Ascension markets across the country offer comprehensive virtual care options for urgent, episodic and non-emergency needs. All Ascension sites of care are connected to a broad network of doctors and specialists, and Ascension Online Care is part of a trusted healthcare brand, with the ease of availability from home or on the go.

A new Access to Care, Anytime Anywhere marketing campaign, including television advertising, radio advertising, online advertising and direct mail, begins Monday, September 2, to raise awareness of this innovative offering.

“We are committed to offering access points that open the front door to our services to those who need it most, and this campaign is a great example of our brand promise of delivering compassionate, personalized care for those we serve,” said Nick Ragone, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension. “Ascension Online Care is our first Ascension-branded consumer access product, and our marketing campaign is designed to build broad awareness among those who need greater access to care from home, at a lower cost, or simply at a more convenient time.”

Ascension Online Care can be used to treat a wide variety of symptoms and conditions, including sinus or upper respiratory infections, non-life-threatening allergic reactions, sore throat/cough, cold/flu, fever, seasonal allergies, and more.

“Ascension Online Care is another way to deliver access and convenience,” said Baligh Yehia, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Clinical & Network Services, Ascension. “Consumers and patients now have access to comprehensive care within our trusted network of services, which includes primary, specialty, urgent, emergency and now online care. We are excited to provide this service as an option, so consumers can get the right care, at a time and in a setting that is convenient for them.”

**Media assets for the Access to Care, Anytime Anywhere campaign available here**

About Ascension

Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2018, Ascension provided nearly $2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 156,000 associates and 34,000 aligned providers. The national health system operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 151 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 21 states and the District of Columbia, while providing a variety of services including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.