Virtual Doctor Visits Are Becoming Commonplace in America

Virtual Doctor Visits Are Becoming Commonplace in America

Recent statistics show that one in four American doctors is now conducting e-medicine consulting with patients online. E-medicine is a growing trend in North America, with over 9 million Americans emailing their physicians in 2009. Online medical consultations have won the support of the American Medical Association and a growing number of insurers. The integrated health care organization Kaiser Permanente reports that its members with diabetes and hypertension who emailed their doctors were more likely to get the recommended care than those who didn't engage in online doctor visits.

One typical web-based e-medicine service provider facilitates web visits for 13 health insurers and 25,000 healthcare providers. Patients log in to a secure site and choose from a list of over 150 non-urgent medical issues including colds and flu, allergies, diabetes, arthritis, back pain and post-operative care. The patient participates in an interactive "interview", a summary of which is sent to his or her doctor. The doctor responds within 24 hours, dispensing medical advice, possibly sending a prescription, or, if they feel it's advisable, requesting an office visit. Patients can also use the website to book appointments with their doctors, get test results, renew prescriptions and request referrals.

Other e-medicine sites provide email, secure instant messaging and webcam "visits" with physicians. The ability to interact with a doctor online is a real benefit to patients who work during normal office hours, are physically laid up or too sick to leave the house, want to save time or simply appreciate the convenience of a virtual visit with a doctor in the comfort of their own home. Some sites require that you only interact with your personal physician, while others offer consultations with doctors other than your own.

According to a spokesperson from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, 93% of their members who used the new care model were "very satisfied" with their experience. Fees are lower than in-office visits, usually ranging from $25 to $50. Federal privacy laws require all e-medicine services to be conducted using secure technology to protect patient privacy. The technology needed is minimal virtual doctor visits can be conducted without any special software, using a standard web browser and internet connection, although some situations require a webcam. Several service providers have even developed e-medicine applications for smart phones.

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