Virtual Urgent Care: Online Doctor Visits at CityHealth (Same Day)

Seeing a doctor shouldn’t require taking half a day off work. CityHealth’s virtual consultations let you connect with a licensed medical provider from your home, office, or anywhere in California — using your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

This guide answers the most common questions about how virtual consultations work at CityHealth, what conditions qualify, how to book, and what to expect.

What Is a Virtual Consultation?

A virtual consultation (also called a telehealth visit or virtual urgent care) is a secure video or phone appointment with a licensed healthcare provider. Instead of coming into the clinic, you connect online. Your provider can evaluate your symptoms, review your medical history, diagnose common conditions, and send prescriptions directly to your pharmacy.

At CityHealth, virtual consultations are offered through our telehealth platform and are available to patients across California.

What Conditions Can Be Treated via Virtual Consultation?

CityHealth’s virtual care providers can evaluate and treat a wide range of non-emergency conditions, including:

• UTI (urinary tract infections) and bladder infections
• Sinus infections and nasal congestion
• Cold, flu, and upper respiratory infections
• COVID-19 symptoms and treatment (Paxlovid prescriptions)
• Sore throat and strep (if no culture required)
• Skin rashes, mild eczema, allergic reactions
• Ear pain (for adults)
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Prescription refills for ongoing conditions
• Lab order requests (we can order labs you then complete at a local lab)
• Mental health referrals and care coordination

When to come in instead: Chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, high fever with stiff neck, severe abdominal pain, injuries, or any condition requiring a physical exam, X-ray, or lab drawn on-site should be seen in person at our San Leandro urgent care clinic.

How Do CityHealth Virtual Consultations Work?

The process is straightforward:

1. Book online — Use CityHealth’s online booking to schedule a virtual visit. Choose a same-day or next-day appointment time.
2. Receive a link — You’ll get a confirmation with a secure video link. No app download required.
3. Join your visit — At your appointment time, click the link on your phone or computer and connect with your provider.
4. Get your care plan — Your provider will discuss your symptoms, review your history, diagnose when possible, and explain treatment.
5. Receive prescriptions — If appropriate, prescriptions are sent directly to your pharmacy of choice, usually within hours.

Visits typically last 10–20 minutes.

What Do I Need for a Virtual Consultation?

You’ll need:

• A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone
• A reliable internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular)
• A quiet, private space for your appointment
• Your insurance card or payment method
• A list of any current medications (or have them nearby)

No special app or software is required. CityHealth’s virtual platform works directly in your browser.

Is CityHealth Virtual Care Covered by Insurance?

CityHealth accepts most major insurance plans, including Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, Medi-Cal, and others. Telehealth coverage varies by plan — call your insurance to confirm your telehealth benefit. We also see self-pay patients at a flat rate.

Learn more about CityHealth’s insurance and pricing.

Is Virtual Care Secure and Private?

Yes. CityHealth uses a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform for all virtual consultations. Your visit, diagnosis, and any information you share is protected under federal healthcare privacy law. Your session is encrypted and never recorded without your explicit consent.

Virtual Consultation vs. In-Person Urgent Care: Which Is Right for You?

How to Book a Virtual Visit at CityHealth

Book online at care.cityhealth.com/book-appointment — same-day appointments are often available. You can also call our San Leandro clinic at (510) 272-7504 to schedule.

CityHealth’s San Leandro location also offers in-person urgent care, STI testing, TB testing, X-rays, lab work, and more. Our Oakland (Montclair Village) location offers dermatology services on Wednesdays.

Virtual Urgent Care Near Me: Common Conditions Treated Online

Virtual urgent care is available to patients across California. You don’t need to be near a physical clinic to access CityHealth’s licensed providers. Here are the most common reasons patients seek online care:

Virtual Care for UTI

UTIs are one of the most common reasons patients choose virtual urgent care. Burning urination, frequent urges, and pelvic pressure can be evaluated by video — and antibiotics prescribed the same day for uncomplicated UTIs in adults.

Virtual Care for Sinus Infection

Facial pressure, thick nasal discharge, and congestion lasting more than 10 days may be a bacterial sinus infection. A virtual visit lets your provider assess your symptoms and prescribe antibiotics if appropriate — no office visit needed.

Virtual Care for COVID-19

Tested positive? CityHealth providers can evaluate you via video and prescribe Paxlovid or other antivirals if you qualify, typically within 5 days of symptom onset. Virtual care is often the fastest path to antiviral treatment.

Prescription Refills via Telehealth

CityHealth can review your history and refill many non-controlled medications during a virtual visit. Same-day availability means no waiting for an in-person appointment just for a refill.

Does Insurance Cover Virtual Urgent Care?

Since 2020, most major insurance plans cover telehealth at parity with in-person care. Your virtual visit copay is typically the same as — or less than — your in-person urgent care copay. CityHealth accepts:

• Blue Shield of California
• Aetna
• United Healthcare
• Medi-Cal
• Cigna / Evernorth
• Most major PPO and HMO plans

Self-pay patients are welcome at a flat-rate virtual visit fee. Ask when booking.

Virtual Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room vs. In-Person Care

• Virtual urgent care: Best for non-emergency symptoms you can describe via video — UTI, sinus infection, cold, COVID, rash, medication questions
• In-person urgent care (CityHealth San Leandro): Required for conditions needing a physical exam, lab work, X-ray, or rapid test — stitches, strep, flu swab, STI testing, sprains
• Emergency room: Life-threatening emergencies only — chest pain, stroke, severe trauma, difficulty breathing

Not sure which you need? Start with a virtual visit. Your CityHealth provider will tell you if you need to come in.

Frequently Asked Questions: CityHealth Virtual Consultations

Can urgent care do virtual visits?
Yes. CityHealth offers virtual urgent care for non-emergency conditions including UTIs, sinus infections, rashes, COVID symptoms, and more. You see a licensed provider by video and get a treatment plan and prescriptions the same day.

How do I schedule a virtual consultation at CityHealth?
Book online at care.cityhealth.com/book-appointment. Choose “Virtual Visit” and select a same-day or future time. You’ll receive a confirmation with a video link.

Can I get a prescription from a virtual visit?
Yes, if clinically appropriate. CityHealth providers can prescribe antibiotics, antivirals (including Paxlovid for COVID), and other medications and send them to your pharmacy directly.

Are CityHealth virtual visits covered by insurance?
Most major insurance plans cover telehealth, including Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Medi-Cal. Coverage varies by plan — verify your telehealth benefit with your insurer before your visit.