Virtual Visits To Doctors Spreading 215
tresho writes to tell us that virtual doctors visits seem to be on the rise. A new service, most recently deployed in Texas, from "NowClinic" is allowing doctors to make virtual house calls and prescribe anything short of controlled substances. "For $45, anyone in Texas can use NowClinic, whether or not they are insured, by visiting NowClinic.com. Doctors hold 10-minute appointments and can file prescriptions, except for controlled substances. Eventually they will be able to view patients’ medical histories if they are available. The introduction of NowClinic will be the first time that online care has been available nationwide, regardless of insurance coverage."
Good idea (Score:1, Interesting)
This sounds like a good idea.
A lot of the immigrants from Mexico and Somalia that have settled here (northern Colorado) could use this. We have a local clinic that is always so busy that you have to call first thing in the morning to get an appointment. I'd think that if they did offer this service, it'd be a big help.
Its nice to see (Score:1, Interesting)
Its nice to see the medical industry take steps to modernize finally.
Problems with visiting the doctor in person:
If you are sick you have to make an appointment - and wait. If you cant wait and you need answers you go to the ER (bad for many reasons)
If you are sick you have to drive to the doctor when the appointment comes, or get a ride or ride public transit and share the germs etc (bad for many reasons)
When you get to the doctors office, you wait with other sick people. (spread the germs - bad on many levels)
You speak to 2 people before you speak to the doctor (cost of receptionist, cost of nurse, miscommunication possible)
Skipping all of those steps may be a good idea for things where physical testing etc isn't needed.
Re:Nationwide, for anyone in Texas? (Score:4, Interesting)
Dell Support is a business-school case study in how cutting corners and trying to save costs can piss away tens of billions of dollars of shareholders' equity. There was a time when Dell support was as good or better than the average in their industry.
-jcr
Re:Paying cash always helps (Score:4, Interesting)
$45 for a guaranteed ten minutes of access to an actual MD is probably well worth it. I've been with my current doctor for 6 years now, and I've met her once when one of the RNs wanted to do an in-office biopsy
Wow - be glad you're not in one of those "socialist" countries that has government-run healthcare, or you might actually have to see the doctor every visit! And it would be 100% covered by your insurance! (Oh, the horror!)
Seriously though - I had a girlfriend who was a nurse, and I had some earwax impacted in one ear... I couldn't see the doctor until the next day, so I bought an ear syringe and asked her if she'd do it.. she said technically she wasn't allowed to, as it was a medical procedure.
I hate to think of what the hell goes on in the US, where RNs will perform friggin biopsies by themselves.
Cleveland Clinic offers virtual 2nd opinions (Score:2, Interesting)