New JacketCare offers round-the-clock telehealth to BW students

With campus health and safety among BW's top priorities, a new telehealth medical and mental health provider is now ready to serve students 24/7/365, in addition to the full range of services that BW already offers on campus and online.

Expanded healthcare options

The newly launched JacketCare, powered by TimelyMD, provides all registered students free, round-the-clock access to online healthcare services via smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop.

JacketCare services include:

• Medical: on-demand access to a medical provider who can treat a wide range of common illnesses like cold and flu, sinus infection, allergies and more
  
  
• TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand access to a mental health professional to talk about anything
  
  
• Scheduled Counseling: scheduled options to speak to a licensed counselor

"We're excited to make these timely, online, private medical and counseling services available to our students in addition to what our dedicated staff already provides," said BW Health & Counseling Services director Lauren Bara.

Anytime, free, secure, mental health services

"For mental health services, our 24/7 access to the ProtoCall crisis phone line also remains in place, but the TalkNow feature of JacketCare is available to any student at any time, not just in urgent or crisis situations," added Sophia Kallergis, director of the BW Counseling Center.

"Whether a student is anxious, stressed, dealing with relationship issues or feeling overwhelmed, they can now talk to a licensed provider over secure phone or video visits from any web-enabled device anywhere in the U.S. at any time of the day or night."

Kallergis also noted that BW sought out a service provider that included diverse clinicians to serve a diverse campus population.

Accessing healthcare options at BW

To use the no-cost JacketCare services, enrolled students simply go to www.jacket.care and register with their university email address. Mobile users will be directed to download the TimelyMD app.

Bara emphasizes that JacketCare services augment in-person and telehealth services already available at BW. "We continue to expand the ways we are able to make comprehensive health care available to our students, including mental health services and the evaluation and treatment of illnesses and injuries."

There is no charge or required health insurance for a student to see a nurse or physician at the BW Health Center, and charges for medications, lab work, injections and physicals may be paid for with cash, check or Jacket Express.

Students should also keep in mind that Southwest General Hospital is a half-mile away from the BW campus in the event of a medical emergency.