Aurora gives details on scheduling patients for vaccine
Aurora Health Care is contacting its patients to schedule appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, with priority being given to those who are at risk of severe complications from the disease.
The health system is contacting patients by email. It will call or send text messages to patients when it does not have an email address.
Aurora, part of Advocate Aurora Health, has an estimated 250,000 patients in Wisconsin who are 65 and older and eligible for the vaccine.
Other health systems also are directly contacting their patients. But Aurora will use its LiveWell app to schedule vaccinations for most of its patients, and the health system has released additional details on its plans.
When patients are notified by email that they can schedule vaccinations, they will be given a step-by-step guide on how to use its LiveWell app, Aurora said in a statement. They also will be given the telephone number for a help line staffed by people who can help patients schedule appointments through the app.
People who are unable to use the app, such as those without smart phones, will be able to schedule appointments by phone.
Aurora did not respond when asked whether people who do not want to download the app will have the option of scheduling appointments by phone.
The health system — like other health systems — is asking people to not call their doctor’s office or hospital about the COVID-19 vaccine. The clinics and hospital are unable to schedule appointments or provide details on when the vaccine will be available.
Aurora is not accepting walk-ins and will not have a wait list.
The health system is giving priority to people who are at risk of severe complications from COVID-19, using an algorithm that looks at age, medical conditions and other risk factors, including people who live in ZIP codes disproportionately affected by the disease.
The medical conditions include obesity, diabetes, asthma, lung disease and heart conditions.
Aurora is asking that people use its online resource center for information about the COVID-19 vaccine. It also will continue to update its aah.org/vaccine website with the latest information.
“We are confident that all who want the COVID-19 vaccine will have the opportunity to receive it in the coming months as supplies increase,” the health system said in the statement.