A urinary tract infection can make every trip to the bathroom miserable. The good news: for many adults, a UTI is something a clinician can assess by video, without a waiting room. Here's what to expect, what it costs, and when you need to be seen in person instead.
If you have a high fever with shaking chills, severe back or side pain, vomiting, or new confusion, don't wait for a video visit. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Symptoms of a UTI
A UTI is an infection somewhere in the urinary system. Most often it's in the bladder. Common symptoms include:
- Burning or pain when you urinate
- Needing to urinate often, even when little comes out
- A strong, sudden urge to go
- Cloudy, dark or strong-smelling urine
- Pink, red or brown urine, which can be a sign of blood
- Pressure or cramping in the lower belly
In older adults, the signs can be less obvious. New confusion, a fall or simply not acting like yourself can be the main clue. Take those changes seriously.
Can a UTI be treated by video?
Often, yes. For an otherwise healthy, non-pregnant woman with typical bladder infection symptoms, a clinician can usually make a diagnosis from your symptoms and history.
During your video visit, your clinician will:
- Ask when your symptoms started and how they've changed
- Ask about fever, back pain, nausea and vaginal symptoms
- Review your medications, allergies and past UTIs
- Check for anything that means you need an exam or a urine test
UTIs are caused by bacteria, so treatment is usually an antibiotic. If your clinician decides one is appropriate, they send the prescription to the Florida pharmacy you choose. Sometimes your clinician may ask you to get a urine test at a lab first. Your clinician decides what's right for you.
When to be seen in person
Some UTIs need an exam, a urine test or closer follow-up. Get in-person care if you:
- Have a fever or chills
- Have pain in your back or side, below the ribs (this can mean the infection has reached a kidney)
- Have nausea or vomiting
- Are pregnant, or might be
- Are a man with urinary symptoms
- Get UTIs often, or had one recently that came back
- Use a urinary catheter
- Have kidney stones, kidney disease or a problem with the shape of your urinary tract
- Have diabetes that isn't well controlled, or a weakened immune system
- Have unusual vaginal discharge, sores or itching, which may point to another cause
- Aren't getting better a couple of days after starting treatment, or are getting worse
If any of these apply, your clinician may still talk with you by video and then help you decide where to go. You can also find walk-in clinics and ERs across Florida.
Emergency warning signs: call 911
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- High fever with shaking chills
- Severe pain in your back, side or belly
- Vomiting that keeps you from keeping down fluids
- New confusion, extreme sleepiness or trouble waking up
- Fainting, a racing heart or feeling very unwell very quickly
- Being unable to urinate at all
What UTI treatment costs at MD Care
A video visit is $50 without insurance. There's no membership and no monthly fee. If you have Medicare, we confirm your coverage before your visit, and you pay your plan's share.
For some straightforward cases, a $20 message visit may be enough, when your clinician agrees it's appropriate.
Most patients are seen within three hours. You must be physically located in Florida at the time of your visit.
Tips to feel better at home
These won't replace treatment, but they can help while you recover:
- Drink plenty of water, unless a doctor has told you to limit fluids
- Urinate when you feel the urge. Try not to hold it.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder
- Try a heating pad on your lower belly for cramping
- If you're prescribed an antibiotic, take every dose as directed, even once you feel better
Can I get antibiotics for a UTI online?
If your clinician diagnoses a UTI and decides an antibiotic is appropriate, yes. They send the prescription to your pharmacy. If your symptoms suggest something else, or you need a test first, they'll tell you.
Do I need a urine test?
Not always. For many women with typical bladder infection symptoms, a diagnosis can be made from symptoms alone. Your clinician may order a urine test if your symptoms are unusual, you've had several UTIs, or treatment hasn't worked.
Can men get UTI treatment by video?
Men can start with a video visit, but UTIs in men usually need a urine test and sometimes an exam. Your clinician will help you plan the right next step.
Will a UTI go away on its own?
Don't count on it. A bladder infection that isn't treated can spread to the kidneys, which is more serious. It's best to be seen soon after symptoms start.
Does Medicare cover a video visit for a UTI?
We accept Medicare for urgent care visits. We confirm your coverage before your visit, and you pay your plan's share.
How fast can I be seen?
Most patients are seen within three hours.
Think you have a UTI?
See a Florida-licensed clinician by video, from home.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Urinary tract infection basics. cdc.gov.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, NIH). Bladder infection (urinary tract infection) in adults. niddk.nih.gov.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Urinary tract infections. medlineplus.gov.
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Clinical practice guidelines for acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women. idsociety.org.
This page is for general information and isn't medical advice. It doesn't replace an evaluation by a clinician. MD Care is not for emergencies: if you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.