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NYC Health + Hospitals announce an update on its telehealth abortion care through the health system’s Virtual ExpressCare service
Since its launch, the service has provided 870 virtual visits, mailed over 230 abortion kits, and referred 360 patients for in-person care
New York: NYC Health + Hospitals has announced an update on its telehealth abortion care through the health system’s Virtual ExpressCare service.
In October 2023, NYC Health + Hospitals launched telehealth abortion access — becoming the first public health system in the nation to do so. Since its launch, the service has provided 870 virtual visits, mailed over 230 abortion kits, and referred 360 patients for in-person care. The average wait time for a virtual visit is less than 5 minutes. Over 73% of the patients identify as people of color.
The service allows patients in NYC seeking abortion care to speak to a New York State-licensed health care professional on demand by video or phone for an assessment, counseling and access to medication if eligible. The telehealth service is available 7 days a week, 9am – 9pm, and will provide patients with access to safe and legal abortion care.
The NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCareservice is available in over 200 languages and can be accessed at expresscare.nyc or by calling 1-718-360-8981.
A flyer about the program is available in 13 languages: English, Spanish, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simple Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Urdu.
In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals offers access to a full spectrum of medication and procedural abortion services at their hospital-based clinics. Patients wishing to make an in-person appointment for obstetric and gynecologic services, including abortion care, should call (844) NYC-4NYC.
“NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare makes it easy and convenient to access care, and we are excited to now offer abortion care,” said Erfan Karim, MPH, Executive Director, NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCare. “When you contact Virtual ExpressCare, you will be connected to a provider on-demand. We’re here to provide you confidential, immediate care.”
“As our country faces a devastating loss of reproductive rights, New Yorkers should know that they can access safe and legal abortion care from NYC Health + Hospitals,” said Marisa Nadas, MD, MPH, NYC Health + Hospitals Reproductive Health Clinical Lead and Virtual ExpressCare Associate Medical Director.“By offering access to assessment and counseling for abortion care — as well as the possibility of a remote medication abortion — through Virtual ExpressCare, we are navigating around barriers people face in coming for in-person appointments and further opening up access.”
The telehealth abortion service by NYC Health + Hospitals is based in and for New York City. Patients must attest to being in New York City at the time of the call and must attest that they will be in New York City when they take the medication. Medication is mailed to New York City addresses only and is available to clinically eligible patients who are up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy.
Telehealth abortion care builds on NYC Health + Hospitals’ wide range of facility-based obstetric and gynecologic services, including primary care, family planning, abortion care, prenatal through delivery care, midwifery and referrals for doula services, postpartum care, breastfeeding and lactation services, breast exams, nutrition, behavioral health referrals, preventative care, and vaccinations. Gynecology services include menopause and fibroid treatments, as well as specialty practices for gynecologic cancers, pelvic pain and endometriosis. Patients wishing to make an in-person appointment can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC.
NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCare is available in over 200 languages. In addition to abortion care, patients can receive immediate and confidential care for an array of physical and behavioral health concerns, including COVID-19, minor injuries, fever and flu, upper respiratory infections, anxiety, depression, and substance use issues. Virtual ExpressCare is available 24/7, 365 days a year to all New Yorkers at expresscare.nyc or calling 631-EXP-Care (631-397-2273).
