Who are the happiest people? Poll results are in
- Details
- Published on 05 June 2015
- Written by PRNewswire
How many adults do you know who you'd consider to be very happy? Would you include yourself in that count? Statistically speaking, there's about a one in three chance that you do.
The Harris Poll® Happiness Index, which uses a series of questions to calculate Americans' overall happiness, finds that roughly a third of Americans (34 percent) are very happy.
The Happiness Index looks at what's on the minds of Americans today, and reflects attitudes toward the state of affairs in our country. What's more, it offers a glimpse of which segments of our country's population are most and least happy.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,215 U.S. adults surveyed online between April 15 and 20, 2015. Full results of this study, including data tables, can be found here Happiness Index.
Better with age
Those 50 and older (36 percent ages 50-64, 42 percent ages 65+) are more likely to be very happy than their younger counterparts (percentages ranging from 30 percent-32 percent for adults under 50). Looking at how different generations respond to the series of questions on which the index is based provides some insights into the underlying factors driving these differences:
- Matures are more likely than their younger counterparts to agree with the statement "At this time I'm generally happy with my life" (92 percent vs. 82 percent of Baby Boomers, 78 percent of Gen Xers and 81 percent of Millennials). They're also less likely than other generations to indicate frequently worrying about their financial situation (49 percent vs. 61 percent, 71 percent and 75 percent) and – as one might expect, given they're past the age of retirement – to report work frustrations (8 percent vs. 25 percent, 41 percent and 44 percent).
- On the other hand, Millennials are more likely than any of their elders to indicate being optimistic about the future (81 percent vs. 71 percent Gen Xers, 72 percent Baby Boomers, 70 percent Matures).
Women also happier
The Happiness Index also finds women (36 percent) are more likely than men (33 percent) to be very happy. A few specific factors appear to drive this, with women more likely to agree that…
- "My relationships with friends bring me happiness" (92 percent women vs. 88 percent men)
- "At this time I'm generally happy with my life" (85 percent vs. 79 percent)
- "My spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force for me" (77 percent vs. 64 percent)
Something to believe in
Many Americans look to a religious community or belief system – regardless of what religion they ascribe to – for comfort and support, and religious affiliation and practices appear to make Americans more likely to be very happy.
- Those who describe themselves as very or somewhat religious (38 percent) are more likely to be very happy than those who are not very or not at all religious (29 percent).
- Looking at a more behavioral measure of religious engagement, those who attend religious services regularly (42 percent among those attending weekly or more, 35 percent among those attending a few times per year or 1-2 times per month) are more likely to be very happy than those who don't (31 percent once a year or less, 30 percent never).
Another factor seemingly playing a role in happiness is one's political belief system. Both Republicans and Democrats (36 percent each) are more likely than Independents (32 percent) to be very happy.
Money matters
Money may not buy happiness per se, but having it certainly coincides with a higher probability that you're very happy. Americans with annual household incomes under $35,000 are less likely than those earning $35,000 or more to be very happy (30 percent vs. 35 percent $35k-$50k, 34 percent $50k-$75k, 35 percent $75k-$100k), while those earning $100,000 or more are especially prone to being very happy (38 percent).
Financial expectations appear to be just as important as what Americans are earning presently:
- Those who expect their household financial situation to be better in the next six months (38 percent) are more likely to be very happy than those expecting it to remain the same (34 percent) – who, in turn, are more likely to be very happy than those expecting it to get worse (31 percent).
- Looking more broadly at expectations for the U.S. economy as a whole, those expecting it to get better in the coming year are more likely to be very happy (40 percent) than either those expecting it to stay the same (32 percent) or those expecting it to get worse (33 percent).
To see other recent Harris Polls, please visit TheHarrisPoll.com
TABLE 1a
HAPPINESS INDEX – Trended Breakdowns
The Harris Poll Happiness Index is calculated by taking an average (mean) of those who strongly agree with positive statements and strongly disagree with the negative ones
Base: U.S. adults
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | |
| All Adults | 35 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 |
| Gender | ||||||
| Men | 33 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
| Women | 36 | 36 | 35 | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| Income | ||||||
| $34,999 or less | 32 | 31 | 28 | 33 | 29 | 30 |
| $35,000 – $49,999 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 32 | 35 |
| $50,000 – $74,999 | 36 | 39 | 34 | 30 | 35 | 34 |
| $75,000—$99,999 * | 38* | 36* | 38* | 29 | 35 | 35 |
| $100,000+ | 37 | 38 | 38 | |||
| Age | ||||||
| 18-24 | 29 | 32 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
| 25-29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 |
| 30-39 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 31 |
| 40-49 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
| 50-64 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 36 |
| 65+ | 47 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 41 | 42 |
| Disabilities | ||||||
| People with disabilities | 36 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 33 |
| People without disabilities | 35 | 36 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 35 |
| Political Party | ||||||
| Republican | 39 | 37 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Democrat | 33 | 36 | 34 | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| Independent | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Education | ||||||
| High school or less | 35 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 34 |
| Some college | 35 | 36 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
| College graduate | 34 | 36 | 34 | 35 | 32 | 36 |
| Post graduate | 36 | 39 | 36 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
Note: *indicates this was a net of $75K+ in those years
TABLE 1b
HAPPINESS INDEX – Additional Breakdowns
The Harris Poll Happiness Index is calculated by taking an average (mean) of those who strongly agree with positive statements and strongly disagree with the negative ones
Base: U.S. adults
| 2015 | |
| All Adults | 34 |
| Region | |
| East | 34 |
| Midwest | 35 |
| South | 35 |
| West | 34 |
| Children <18 in household | |
| Yes | 33 |
| No | 35 |
| Metro status | |
| Urban | 33 |
| Suburban | 35 |
| Rural | 36 |
| Expectations for HH financial outlook for next 6 months |
|
| Expect it to be worse | 31 |
| Expect it to remain the same | 34 |
| Expect it to be better | 38 |
| Expectations for U.S. economy in the coming year |
|
| Expect it to get worse | 33 |
| Expect it to stay the same | 32 |
| Expect it to get better | 40 |
| Religiosity (self-assessed) | |
| Not at all/Not very religious | 29 |
| Very/Somewhat religious | 38 |
| Attend religious services | |
| Never | 30 |
| Once a year or less | 31 |
| Few times per year/1-2 times per month | 35 |
| Weekly or more | 42 |
TABLE 2a
HAPPINESS INDEX STATEMENTS – SUMMARY GRID
"Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements."
Base: U.S. adults
|
AGREE (NET) |
Strongly agree |
Somewhat agree |
DISAGREE (NET) |
Somewhat disagree |
Strongly disagree |
Not at all sure |
||
| My relationships with friends bring me happiness |
percent | 90 | 60 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| I have positive relationships with my family members |
percent | 89 | 65 | 25 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| At this time, I'm generally happy with my life |
percent | 82 | 42 | 40 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| I'm optimistic about the future |
percent | 75 | 34 | 41 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 4 |
| I feel my voice is not heard in national decisions that affect me |
percent | 72 | 39 | 34 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 7 |
| My spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to me |
percent | 71 | 43 | 28 | 23 | 11 | 13 | 6 |
| I frequently worry about my financial situation |
percent | 67 | 32 | 35 | 31 | 19 | 12 | 3 |
| I rarely worry about my health |
percent | 51 | 16 | 35 | 48 | 33 | 15 | 1 |
| I won't get much benefit from the things that I do anytime soon |
percent | 36 | 10 | 27 | 57 | 34 | 22 | 7 |
| My work is frustrating | percent | 33 | 11 | 22 | 57 | 24 | 33 | 10 |
| I rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes I enjoy |
percent | 31 | 10 | 20 | 68 | 34 | 33 | 2 |
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100 percent due to rounding
TABLE 2b
HAPPINESS INDEX STATEMENTS – TREND
"Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements."
Percent saying "Strongly/Somewhat Agree"
Base: U.S. adults
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | |
| percent | percent | percent | percent | percent | percent | |
| My relationships with friends brings me happiness | 93 | 91 | 91 | 93 | 90 | 90 |
| I have positive relationships with my family members | 92 | 90 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 89 |
| At this time I'm generally happy with my life | 83 | 81 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 82 |
| I'm optimistic about the future | na | na | na | 75 | 67 | 75 |
| I feel my voice is not heard in national decisions that affect me | 73 | 67 | 72 | 74 | 75 | 72 |
| My spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to me | 77 | 74 | 73 | 74 | 73 | 71 |
| I frequently worry about my financial situation | 65 | 67 | 66 | 68 | 65 | 67 |
| I rarely worry about my health | 49 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 52 | 51 |
| I won't get much benefit from the things that I do anytime soon | na | na | na | 38 | 42 | 36 |
| My work is frustrating | 37 | 36 | 38 | 39 | 34 | 33 |
| I rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes I enjoy | 32 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 36 | 31 |
TABLE 2c
HAPPINESS INDEX STATEMENTS – By Generation & Gender
"Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements."
Percent saying "Strongly/Somewhat Agree"
Base: U.S. adults
| Total 2015 | Generation | Gender | |||||
|
Millennials (18-37) |
Gen X (38-49) |
Baby Boomers (50-68) |
Matures (69+) |
Men | Women | ||
| percent | percent | percent | percent | percent | percent | percent | |
| My relationships with friends brings me happiness | 90 | 89 | 92 | 91 | 88 | 88 | 92 |
| I have positive relationships with my family members | 89 | 89 | 91 | 89 | 88 | 88 | 90 |
| At this time I'm generally happy with my life | 82 | 81 | 78 | 82 | 92 | 79 | 85 |
| I'm optimistic about the future | 75 | 81 | 71 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 77 |
| I feel my voice is not heard in national decisions that affect me |
72 | 73 | 70 | 72 | 78 | 75 | 70 |
| My spiritual beliefs are a positive guiding force to me | 71 | 65 | 72 | 76 | 74 | 64 | 77 |
| I frequently worry about my financial situation | 67 | 75 | 71 | 61 | 49 | 65 | 68 |
| I rarely worry about my health | 51 | 56 | 52 | 47 | 46 | 54 | 49 |
| I won't get much benefit from the things that I do anytime soon |
36 | 35 | 44 | 34 | 36 | 39 | 34 |
| My work is frustrating | 33 | 44 | 41 | 25 | 8 | 35 | 31 |
| I rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes I enjoy | 31 | 32 | 39 | 27 | 25 | 31 | 31 |
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online, in English, within the United States between April 15 and 20, 2015 among 2,215 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100 percent response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
Wait, what? Drinking tea is as good as sex?
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- Published on 03 June 2015
- Written by PRNewswire
Twenty-four million Americans would have a hard time deciding between a cup of tea and a roll in the hay, according to a new survey commissioned by the Tea Council of the USAin honor of National Iced Tea Month in June.
Whether black, green, oolong or white, enjoying a cup of tea is something many look forward to every day.
Here is a look at how Americans are drinking their favorite brew—what, where, when, why and with whom.
Tea Bringsthe Heat.Twenty-four million Americans think that drinking of cup of their favorite brew is as good as sex. Surprisingly, more men than women (13% vs. 8%) and more Millennials than older generations (16% vs. 7%) feel this way.
Green Tea: The Beverage of Champions.Americans who drink green tea report a greater quality of life than non-green tea drinkers--being more likely to feel happy almost all the time (77% vs. 71%) and be completely satisfied with their lives (70% vs. 61%). Green tea drinkers are also more likely than those who don't drink green tea to describe themselves as confident (55% vs. 47%), creative (57% vs. 43%), adventurous (37% vs. 28%), spontaneous (35% vs. 26%) and bold (24% vs. 19%).
Celebri-teaTea Party. PresidentBarack Obama(31%) andMichelle Obama(31%) tie as the public figures Americans would most want to have a cup of tea with. So what about other celebrity duos and rivals? When it comes to pop stars, more Americans would rather enjoy a cup of tea withTaylor Swift(25%) than Beyonce (19%). For a royal tea party, the Duchess ofCambridge,Kate Middleton(38%), wins overPrince William(22%); there is no word yet on whether people would prefer tea with Prince George or Princess Charlotte.
A Case of the Mondays.Need an extra push to get through the first day of the week? Nearly one quarter (22%) of Americans could not survive it without drinking tea. Fewer say this about pressing the snooze button on their alarm (17%), reading their favorite blog (14%) or using their Outlook calendar (12%).
Simple Pleasures.Americans consider drinking a cup of their favorite tea just as rewarding as many of life's other small pleasures, such as having nothing to do on a rainy day (36%), finding a$5bill on the street (31%), or having a good hair day (26%). More Millennials than non-Millennials compare drinking tea to modern-day "wins", such as having 100% charge on their phone (35% vs. 16%) or getting likes on their social media post (23% vs. 12%).
Southern Style. Despite the stereotype, Midwesterners are more likely than Southerners to drink their tea iced (74% to 68%). But, one southern tradition does remain true – southern tea drinkers are more likely to reach for the sugar than people in any other part of the country (53% vs. 42%). Tea drinkers in the Northeast are more likely than those in other regions to prefer their tea with milk (32% vs. 24%) and those in the West are more likely than others to brew their tea dark (26% vs. 21%) or take it on the go (30% vs. 22%).
A Time and a Place. Americans who drink black tea are most likely to drink it to start their day (24%) and green tea drinkers typically enjoy it in the evening (28%). White tea drinkers are most likely to reach for their brew of choice in the afternoon. But where are people drinking it? While most Americans drink tea at home (89%), many enjoy drinking a cup at a restaurant (48%), or at work (29%).
It's Easy Being Green. More Americans are reaching for green tea than black, white or oolong teas (86% vs. 59%). Younger folks demonstrate a more adventurous spirit when it comes to the types of tea they drink, with more tea-drinking Millennials reaching for green tea (89% vs. 84%), white tea (60% vs. 45%) or oolong tea (53% vs. 42%), than Gen-Xers, Boomers and Traditionalists.
Drink to Good Health.While all types of tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, and provide similar health benefits, Americans are more apt to associate green tea than black, white, or oolong teas as being good for one's health (66% vs. 27%). Perhaps this is why more than half of Americans would turn to green tea over other types when they are feeling sick (55%) or stressed (52%).
"There are more than 4,000 scientific studies about the health benefits of tea, from weight loss to concentration, but this survey really shows that there is a whole slew of intangible benefits that consumers get from tea. People truly have an emotional connection with tea," saidPeter Goggi, president of the Tea Council of theUSA.
Visit theTea Council of the USAor follow@TeaCouncilon Twitter to learn more about the varieties of tea and their many health benefits.
The Tea Council of theUSAis a non-profit association that was formed in 1950 as a joint partnership between tea packers, importers and allied industries withinthe United States, and the major tea producing countries. It functions as the promotional arm of the tea industry with a primary goal of increasing overall awareness of tea by providing information about its many positive attributes.
The Tea Council of theUSASurvey was conducted by Kelton Global online betweenApril 14andApril 23 among 1,012 nationally representative Americans ages 18 and over with a +/-3.1 percent margin of error. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the entire U.S. population ages 18 and over.
Windows 10 will be available July 29
- Details
- Published on 01 June 2015
- Written by PRNewswire
Microsoft Corp. announced Monday that Windows 10 will be availableJuly 29in 190 countries.
Windows 10 will help people be more productive and have more fun, with a personal and natural experience that works across all their devices. Familiar, yet better than ever, Windows 10 will deliver ongoing feature innovations and security updates.
Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade to people using Windows 7 and Windows 8.1,enabling hundreds of millions of people around the world to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.
"Windows 10 is a new generation of Windows designed to empower you to do great things," saidTerry Myerson, executive vice president, Microsoft. "Windows 10 starts to deliver on our vision of more personal computing, defined by trust in how we protect and respect your personal information, mobility of the experience across your devices, and natural interactions with your Windows devices, including speech, touch, ink and holograms."
Familiar and better than ever
Windows 10 brings back the Start menu people know and love while enabling them to easily find their files, pinned applications and favorites.
Windows 10 starts fast, resumes fast and helps enable batteries to last longer. More secure than ever, Windows 10 includes Windows Hello, Microsoft Passport and Windows Defender for anti-malware protection, and a commitment to deliver free, ongoing security updates for the supported lifetime of the device.
Optimized for both keyboard and touch, the Windows 10 upgrade is designed to be compatible with Windows devices and applications.
A more personal and natural experience
Windows 10 adapts to people for a more personal experience.
Cortana, the world's first truly personal digital assistant, helps people get things done across all their devices.Cortana learns individual preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information and important reminders via talking or typing.
Windows Hellogreets people by name and lets them log in to their PC without a password — providing instant, more secure access to their Windows 10 devices through biometric authentication. Windows 10 also lets people interact with their device via the traditional mouse and keyboard or through more natural ways such as voice, pen or gesture.
Be more productive
Windows 10 will help people get more done with less effort than ever before.
Microsoft Edge, the all-new browser designed to get things done online in new ways, offers built-in inking, sharing and reading view. With Cortana integrated, Microsoft Edge offers quick results and content based on individual interests and preferences. Fast, streamlined and personal, Microsoft Edge empowers people to focus on just the content that matters to them and actively engage with the Web.
In addition to the Office 2016 full-featured desktop suite,new Universal Windows applications for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook will offer a consistent, touch-first experience across a range of devices.
Designed from the ground up to run on Windows 10 and perfect for staying productive on the go, people can easily create and edit Word documents and deliver PowerPoint presentations while annotating on the fly. With new touch-first controls in Excel, people can create or update spreadsheets without a keyboard or mouse.
Work and play the way you want across devices
Windows 10 offers a familiar and consistent experience across devices.
Continuum enables devices to transform, enabling elegant transitions of a tablet into a PC, and back — and for a Windows phone to become like a PC.
Xbox on Windows 10 brings the expansive Xbox Live gaming network to both Windows 10 PCs and tablets. People can communicate with their friends on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One while playing any PC game and share content using Game DVR. People can also stream games directly from their Xbox One console to a Windows 10 tablet or PC in their homes.
Games developed for DirectX 12 in Windows 10 will see improvements in speed, efficiency and graphics capability.
Upgrade availability
OnJuly 29, people can get Windows 10 for PCs and tablets by taking advantage of the free upgrade offer, or on new Windows 10 devices.
New Windows 8.1 devices will also easily upgrade to Windows 10, and many retail stores will help upgrade new devices. Starting today, people can reserve their free upgrade if they choose. More information is available atWindows.com.
Windows 10 for other devices will be available later this year.
Some facts about the Windows systems include:
- Free upgrade available for qualified devices. Seehttp://windows.com/windows10upgrade.
- Cortana available in select markets at launch; experience may vary by device.
- Windows Hello requires specialized illuminated infrared camera for facial recognition or iris detection or a fingerprint reader that supports the Windows Biometric Framework.
- Office sold separately.
- Continuum for phone available on select models at launch.
- Broadband Internet required for some features (ISP fees apply). Xbox Live features only available with supported games in Xbox Live-supported countries, see xbox.com/live/countries. Stream to one device at a time; streaming with multiplayer from Xbox One requires home network connection and Xbox Live Gold Membership (sold separately); Gold also required for multiplayer play on Xbox One. DirectX 12 only available with supported games and graphics chips. Game DVR only available with supported hardware.
Construction begins on new Methodist College campus
- Details
- Published on 02 June 2015
- Written by Paul Gordon
In case anyone wondered how much Dr. Kimberly Johnston wanted to expand Methodist College to a larger space more befitting of a school of higher education, she showed them when given a golden hammer Tuesday at the college’s new site.
Johnston pounded and pounded and pounded some more on a wall inside the former American TV store on War Memorial Drive, afterward pronouncing it “therapeutic” as she and other officials got construction underway. It is something Johnston has been seeking for several years as Methodist College has been growing and pushing against the walls of its current location in downtown Peoria.
In lieu of breaking ground, since the building that will house the college’s academics already exists, the officials instead hammered into a half wall just inside the front doors that will be removed to begin renovation of the 120,000 square foot building.
Close to 100 people attended the ceremony, hearing about and viewing plans for the new campus that will include residence halls on land behind the college, all expected to be completed and ready for the fall of 2016.
Johnston said the first steps will be to gut the former retail store at 5801 W. War Memorial Drive and “create a true college environment” that will lend itself to Methodist College’s values and goals to offer student-centered education for the community.
“The student is the reason we’re here,” Johnston said while describing all the college will offer, including three labs, the simulation center that will be moved to the new campus from UnityPoint Health Methodist Hospital, an advanced health sciences library, fitness center, designated study space, a community room and space for relaxation and collaborations. There will also be office space for faculty and student services.
“I don’t use the term state-of-the-art lightly, but it will be state-of-the-art,” Johnston said.
The first residence hall will have 112 bedrooms and offer safe and controlled access, common areas on each floor, a kitchenette in each two-bedroom or four-bedroom suite, laundry facilities on each floor and will include cable, Wi-Fi, electricity, garbage collection and water.
Debbie Simon, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health Methodist, cited Johnston’s vision and persistence in making the new campus a reality, but also credited her vision and work for turning what had long been “a great school of nursing to a great college of nursing to a great college.”
Since Johnston came to Methodist College, it has grown from about 100 students to more than 600 and the growth is expected to continue. It has gone from offering a nursing degree to a full academic schedule, offering bachelor’s degrees in nursing and health sciences, with a full range of arts and sciences curricula, and a master’s in nursing degree.
Others who spoke at the ceremony including Diane Oberhelman, chairman of Cullinan Properties Ltd., which will develop the student residence halls for Methodist College. She said the location of the new campus will be ideal for students because of its proximity to the Shoppes at Grand Prairie and surrounding retail. She said reservations for the residence halls already are being taken.
Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis cited Oberhelman’s vision 15 years ago when she developed the Shoppes at Grand Prairie and converted that corner of the city into the retail and commercial center it is today. That vision, he added, “translates into literally millions of dollars into our local economy.”
State Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, called the new campus “a truly remarkable step forward” from Methodist College’s beginnings more than 100 years ago.
“We will need more and more nurses and health care workers going forward and it’s an opportunity for Peoria to once again lead the way,” Leitch said.
State Sen. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, said the new campus will “further enhance Peoria as the great community it is.”
OSF now offers 24/7 online medical service
- Details
- Published on 01 June 2015
- Written by Paul Gordon
OSF Healthcare is offering a new service that provides 24/7 access to medical care over the Internet.
OSF OnCall, which is made for non-emergency, minor illnesses, is open to patients throughout Illinois via their smartphone, tablet or computer, OSF announced in the news release Monday.
“Everyone is busy. We know that getting in to see a provider can sometimes be a challenge, so we want to make it easier,” said Jeffry Tillery, MD, chief transformation officer for OSF Healthcare System. “It’s a modern-day house call. Thanks to improvements in telemedicine, you can ‘see’ a medical provider in the comfort of your own home.”
OSF OnCall is ideal for minor complaints such as urinary tract or sinus infections, rashes, pink eye, colds and flu. Patients with more serious issues will be referred to an OSF PromptCare or emergency department. Each virtual visit is just $35, paid by debit or credit card. A provider will determine within the first three minutes if the condition would be better treated at a nearby medical facility. If so, a fee will not be charged for the OSF OnCall visit.
OSF OnCall is being offered throughout Illinois, particularly in the central and northern regions served by OSF HealthCare hospitals, the release said. “For those in more rural areas, where travel can be difficult, this is the perfect option,” said Daniel Lau, MD, OSF Medical Group, Pontiac.
The service uses board certified physicians and advanced practice nurses to assess the caller’s situation, said OSF spokesman Jim Farrell. While the service is based in Seattle, all the professionals are licensed to practice in Illinois, he said.
OSF OnCall can be accessed online at www.osfhealthcare.org/virtualcare. Once logged in, patients are connected directly to a medical professional who will be able to see them using the camera on their device. This allows for a face-to-face consultation and assessment.
Other advantages to OSF OnCall:
• No appointment necessary. A typical virtual visit takes 30 minutes from sign-in to finish, with an average of 20 minutes direct interaction with the medical professional.
• Patients use the pharmacy of their choice.
• The medical record from the visit is shared with the patient’s primary care provider. If they don’t have a PCP, OSF HealthCare will help get them one.
“As a busy father, having access to something like OSF OnCall is really a game-changer for patients. If you don’t have to take a sick child to a doctor’s office, sometimes with other kids in tow, think how much easier that is for everyone,” said Matt Gorman, DO, medical director, Clinical Informatics, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
OSF OnCall is the result of a partnership with Carena Inc. a leader in helping health systems deliver new ways for patients to access health care.
