So goes the tag line of a company called American Well
They provide immediate access to a doctor online/webcam/voip.
If the retail clinic movement is desired by consumers than online access seems like a logical evolution. Why wait at all if you can click...why leave your house if you can click...
The cons are the same as those for the retail movement but we are clearly in an era whereby consumers want choice. Perhaps it's too paternalistic to suggest that the best way is a face to face meeting.
Lowell Kleinman, MD www.drkleinman.com www.old-fashionedhousecalls.com
I can just imagine the webcam virtual visit.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Johnson, but the lighting on your end is just not good enough. Yes, that is a nasty rash...but I don't think that squatting over the webcam is helping. Actually, if you don't mind, I need to get my nurse to chaperone the rest of this visit with me."
Imagine what happens when it's outsourced to India. No offense to India's medical care since I know nothing specific about it. However, my doctor is one person I need to understand what I'm saying. After my experience with outsourced tech support, I'm pretty sure medical is off my list of outsourcing.
John Lynn
My EMR and HIPAA Blog
Imagine not having to go to an er for a URI and spending $75 instead of $300. Put on your consumer hats and it starts to make sense albeit there are quality concerns.
Come on DrK. The pedriatric orthopedic told me that it was worth the $500 I had to pay for my 1 year old daughter to get a "splint" placed which she prompty ripped off. Maybe this isn't sounding so bad.
This is not for every setting/patient, but with the advent of google health and ms health vault plus all of teh other online entities we have already turned the corner. why not offer this avenue to our patients...both within our practices and those across the country?