Telehealth care in Cairo and Alexander County, Illinois.

No. Wade’s Care First is a telehealth practice. You join your visit by secure video from home, work or anywhere in Illinois, and Charles Wade, FNP-BC is licensed to treat you while you are in the state. Anything that needs hands-on care is coordinated with facilities in and around Cairo and Alexander County, such as None in Alexander County: Cairo’s hospital closed in December 1986. Nearest verified emergency departments: Memorial Hospital of Carbondale (SIH), Carbondale, about 53 miles north and Mercy Hospital Southeast (formerly Southeast Hospital), 1701 Lacey St., Cape Girardeau, Missouri (emergency room; Cape Girardeau Regional Airport is about 26 miles from Cairo).

CHESI lists Cairo Diagnostic Center at 13289 Kessler Road with laboratory and radiology services. Southern Seven Health Department also lists blood laboratory draws. Confirm the requested test, outside-order acceptance, hours and coverage with the selected facility.

For emergencies call 911. Regional emergency departments include Deaconess Illinois Union County Hospital in Anna, with a 24-hour ER at 517 North Main Street, and hospitals in Cape Girardeau and Carbondale. Emergency services can determine the appropriate destination.

Community Health & Emergency Services (CHESI) lists Cairo Megaclinic at 13245 Kessler Road and Cairo Diagnostic Center at 13289 Kessler Road. CHESI lists laboratory and radiology services; confirm the specific test, order acceptance, hours and coverage before visiting. Ask the clinic about appointments and financial assistance.

Many plans are accepted and benefits are verified before your visit. BCBS / Anthem PPO, UnitedHealthcare PPO, UMR (PPO), Aetna PPO, Cigna PPO, Humana PPO, Ambetter PPO, Illinois Medicaid, Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Aetna Better Health of Illinois, TRICARE. Illinois Medicaid is run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Most members are enrolled in HealthChoice Illinois, the statewide managed care program; HFS says members have at least four health plans to choose from depending on where they live, and about 2.4 million of roughly 3.1 million Illinois Medicaid enrollees are in a HealthChoice Illinois plan. HFS lists these HealthChoice Illinois plans: Aetna Better Health of Illinois; Blue Cross Community Health Plan (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the largest MCO with about 700,000 members); CountyCare Health Plan (Cook County only, operated by Cook County Health); Meridian Health Plan (Meridian also runs YouthCare for former youth in care); and Molina Healthcare. In June 2026 HFS announced new HealthChoice Illinois contracts starting January 1, 2027 with six MCOs: Aetna Better Health of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Humana, Meridian, Molina Healthcare, and CountyCare for Cook County. Current contracts run through December 31, 2026, so plan options may change at the start of 2027. Coverage varies by plan, and self-pay pricing is posted if your plan is not accepted.

Geographic primary care HPSA for all of Alexander County (designated Sept 2025, score 21, partially rural); Southern IL MHCA mental health geographic HPSA (designated Oct 2025); Alexander County MUA (since 1978). Telehealth can complement local clinicians by offering another way to access primary care, mental health and medication follow-up while you keep your local relationships.

When clinically appropriate, we can send orders to a laboratory or imaging facility you choose. Confirm that the location performs the requested test, accepts the order and participates in your insurance network. Availability and travel distance vary by community.