Eligible patients can request Express Care video visits for primary or urgent care, via MyChart, for a limited list of conditions.
At these virtual visits, a doctor or nurse practitioner addresses a medical condition that you've had for less than two weeks, with symptoms that aren't serious enough to require an emergency room visit.
Express Care is not set up to serve patients who need help with multiple medical issues, symptoms that have lasted several weeks, or chronic disease management.
Express Care for primary care is available to patients with a UCSF MyChart account who have been seen in the last three years by a primary care provider.
Express Care for urgent care is available to patients who have a UCSF MyChart account.
| Primary Care | Urgent Care | |
| Hours of Operation | M-F, 8 - 11:30 a.m., 1 - 4:30 p.m. | M-F, noon - 8 p.m. |
| Eligibility | Patients with a UCSF MyChart account who have been seen in the last 3 years by a UCSF primary care provider | Patients with a UCSF MyChart account |
| Location | Any location | Patients must be in California |
| Conditions treated | A single new non-life-threatening illness, condition or symptom as well as other nonemergency medical needs. Not for chronic conditions. | Medical conditions that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening |
| Cost | Billed as a standard primary care visit | Billed as an urgent care visit |
| Ages | All | All |
*If you don't have a MyChart account, visit our MyChart FAQ to learn how to create one.
Express Care can help with a single new but not life-threatening illness, condition or symptom as well as certain other non-emergency medical needs like the flu and COVID-19, a skin rash, UTI or sinus pain.
Some conditions, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or abdominal pain, are not handled by Express Care, and may require a trip to the emergency room. If you have multiple health concerns – or one you've been dealing with for a long time – we recommend scheduling an appointment with your care team or seeking emergency care if urgent.
In the "Find Care" section of MyChart’s main menu, choose "See a provider online now. "After answering a few questions, you'll be placed in a queue. (If many patients are already waiting, Express Care may not be available.)
Once you join the queue, MyChart will notify you via email, text or a MyChart mobile app push notification when a provider is ready to see you. You don't need to join the video visit or stay in MyChart to receive a notification while you wait, but you do have to remain available until the provider can see you.
If the reason for your visit is a health condition that is not eligible for Express Care or requires an in-person appointment, you'll be advised to schedule an office visit.
An Express Care visit is billed as a standard video visit.
Video visit guide: Need help setting up your Express Care visit? This user-friendly guide has videos with step-by-step visuals and spoken instructions for your phone, tablet or computer (PC or Mac), as well as a phone number for MyChart customer service, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
