100% virtual urgent care — see a board-certified ER doctor by secure video. No waiting room, no app.

100% Virtual Urgent Care · San Francisco

See an ER Doctor by Video — Skip the SF ER Wait

San Francisco's busiest ER — ZSFG — averages about five hours, and minor problems wait the longest. See a real board-certified emergency physician by secure video for a flat $100 instead — same day, from home or work — and we'll send your prescription to the pharmacy closest to you.

1From your phone or laptop
2Secure video with an ER doctor
3Prescription sent to your pharmacy
Board-certified ER physicians $100 flat — no membership No app · HIPAA-secure video Open 8a–8p, every day Money-back guarantee
Dr. Erik Petersen, board-certified ER physician, on a FirstCall video visit Dr. William Carlson, board-certified physician, on a FirstCall video visit LIVE VISIT
Dr. Erik PetersenBoard-Certified ER Physician
★★★★★Loved by San Francisco families
Avg ER wait
San Francisco — avg ER wait ~3–5 hrsU.S. average ~2.7 hrs in the ERMiami ~4+ hrsNashville ~4 hrsDestin ~4 hrsAthens ~3–4 hrsPanama City ~3–4 hrsMemphis ~3+ hrsOrlando ~3 hrsJacksonville ~3 hrsMobile ~3 hrsKnoxville ~3 hrsValdosta ~3 hrsSan Diego ~3 hrsKansas City ~2–4 hrsTampa Bay ~2–4 hrsAtlanta ~6 hrsSt. Louis ~5–6 hrsBirmingham ~3–6 hrsLos Angeles ~3–6 hrs1 in 4 ER patients wait 4+ hrs for a bedFirstCall: an ER doctor in minutes — flat $100approximate averages from public hospital data; actual waits vary
San Francisco — avg ER wait ~3–5 hrsU.S. average ~2.7 hrs in the ERMiami ~4+ hrsNashville ~4 hrsDestin ~4 hrsAthens ~3–4 hrsPanama City ~3–4 hrsMemphis ~3+ hrsOrlando ~3 hrsJacksonville ~3 hrsMobile ~3 hrsKnoxville ~3 hrsValdosta ~3 hrsSan Diego ~3 hrsKansas City ~2–4 hrsTampa Bay ~2–4 hrsAtlanta ~6 hrsSt. Louis ~5–6 hrsBirmingham ~3–6 hrsLos Angeles ~3–6 hrs1 in 4 ER patients wait 4+ hrs for a bedFirstCall: an ER doctor in minutes — flat $100approximate averages from public hospital data; actual waits vary
$100
Flat-fee visit, every time
8a–8p
Open every day
Minutes
From sick to seen — no waiting room
21 states
Where our physicians are licensed

Why San Francisco chooses us

A real ER doctor — without the five-hour wait.

From SoMa to the Sunset to the Mission, SF's ERs are slammed, and minor complaints sit behind every true emergency. A $100 video visit gets you a board-certified ER physician in minutes — no lobby, no lost afternoon.

Skip the five-hour ER wait

Zuckerberg San Francisco General averages about five hours from arrival to discharge, and minor problems are triaged last. See a board-certified ER physician from your couch instead, usually within minutes of booking.

One flat price — $100

No facility fees, no surprise bills, no insurance runaround. You know exactly what a visit costs before you book — and a week of follow-up messaging is included.

A real ER doctor, not a chatbot

Every visit is with a board-certified emergency physician — Dr. Petersen or Dr. Carlson — who listens, diagnoses, and treats. Not an app, not a nurse line.

The San Francisco ER reality

In San Francisco, an ER visit can run all afternoon.

At Zuckerberg San Francisco General — the city's safety-net trauma center — the average ER visit runs about 5 hours, and California's median hit 3 hours in 2023. Minor problems wait the longest. A flat $100 FirstCall visit gets you a board-certified ER physician in minutes instead.

And it's getting worse everywhere. University of Michigan researchers found ER crowding at record highs: in recent years more than 1 in 4 admitted emergency patients waited 4+ hours just for a bed — and at the January 2022 peak, 40% waited 4+ hours and 6% waited a full day or more, with waits stuck at record levels for four straight years. (Michigan Medicine / Health Affairs.)
Check live ER wait times near you →

Sources: publicly reported San Francisco hospital ER wait times; California state ED data; University of Michigan / Michigan Medicine (national trend). Waits vary by hospital, day, and acuity.

What we treat

The everyday urgent stuff — handled by video

If it's urgent but not an emergency, there's a good chance we can treat it from your phone or laptop — without the ER wait. A few of the most common reasons San Francisco calls us:

Colds, flu & sinus infections Sore throat & strep Urinary tract infections Pink eye Ear infections Rashes & skin issues Allergies Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea Dehydration Minor injuries Prescription refills

For life-threatening emergencies — chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or stroke symptoms — call 911. Telehealth is for non-emergency urgent conditions.

How it works

From sick to seen in minutes

Book your visit

Request a visit online or call (850) 660-8680. No app to download, no account to create.

See an ER doctor

Connect by secure, HIPAA-compliant video with a board-certified emergency physician who listens and treats.

Pick up your script

We send your prescription electronically to the pharmacy nearest you, plus a week of follow-up messaging if you have questions.

Serving the city & nearby

Care across San Francisco — wherever you are

As long as you're physically in California, you're covered. We care for patients across San Francisco and the nearby Peninsula.

Downtown SoMa Mission Marina Sunset Richmond Nob Hill Castro Noe Valley Pacific Heights Bayview Daly City

Your prescription, your pharmacy

Find a pharmacy near you in San Francisco

After your video visit we send your prescription electronically to whichever pharmacy is most convenient for you. Enter your ZIP code (or use your location) to see the pharmacies closest to you and whether they're open now.

Or jump straight to a chain near you:

Already have a pharmacy you like? Just tell your doctor during the visit — we'll route your prescription there electronically, usually ready within the hour.

More than a one-time visit

Like how we practice? There's a deeper relationship waiting.

FirstCall Urgent Care is your first call when you're sick. But the same board-certified physicians also run FirstCall DPC — direct primary care where your doctor knows your name, answers your texts, and helps you stay ahead of problems instead of just reacting to them. Try us once for $100; if it clicks, we'll show you what ongoing care looks like.

Explore FirstCall DPC

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do you cover the Bay Area?
Yes — as long as you're physically in California during the visit, we can see patients across San Francisco and the nearby Peninsula, and send your prescription to a pharmacy near you.
Is this an in-person clinic or a virtual visit?
It's 100% virtual. You see a board-certified ER physician by secure video from your phone, tablet, or computer — no clinic to drive to and no app to download.
How much does a visit cost?
Every visit is a flat $100. No membership, no insurance hassle, no facility fees or surprise bills.
Can you send a prescription to my San Francisco pharmacy?
Yes. After your video visit we send your prescription electronically to whichever pharmacy is closest to you — any CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, or Safeway across San Francisco.
What can you treat by video?
Common urgent issues like colds, flu and sinus infections, sore throats and strep, UTIs, ear infections, pink eye, rashes, allergies, nausea, dehydration, minor injuries, and prescription needs. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.
What are your hours?
Visits are available every day, 8 AM–8 PM Central.
Do I need an app or a Zoom account?
No. The visit runs on secure, HIPAA-compliant video right in your browser — no download, no account. Every visit includes one week of follow-up messaging.

Ready when you are

Book your $100 visit

See a board-certified ER physician by video, every day — no five-hour ER wait. Pay your flat $100 and you'll pick your visit time next; we'll send your prescription to the pharmacy closest to you in San Francisco.

Pay $100 & Book Your Visit Call (850) 660-8680

Secure payment by Stripe. After payment, choose your time and complete a quick intake.

Money-back guarantee — if we can’t help you, your visit is refunded.