Nashville, Tennessee-based Saint Thomas Health has opened Saint Thomas Health On Demand, a virtual clinic offering round-the-clock access to healthcare.

Part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system, Saint Thomas Health has built the service – which allows patients to receive high-quality care in a virtual clinic via a smartphone, tablet or computer – using a platform from virtual care vendor Carena, which includes software, staffing and operations services.

For a flat fee of $49, patients can get virtual urgent care services – such as diagnosis, prescriptions and follow-up appointments at Saint Thomas medical partners across middle Tennessee – day or night, officials say.

"Listening to our patients, we continue to ask ourselves how we can bring Saint Thomas Health closer to home," said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO for Saint Thomas Medical Partners, in a statement. "In addition to our physician practices in neighborhoods and communities across Middle Tennessee, we are pleased to offer an online tool providing access to healthcare for our patients without ever having to leave their home or work."

The aim is to help ensure that Saint Thomas Health patients stay in-network for continuous care, and allow new patients to connect to Saint Thomas providers after their virtual visits. The on-demand service is fully integrated into the health system's clinical system, officials say: Medical staff working in the virtual clinic will follow practice guidelines to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care.