BlogWorks: Doctors to Make Virtual House Calls?

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January 08, 2009

Doctors to Make Virtual House Calls?

By Marian Short

While the idea of a physician caring for you at your home may be long gone, a service debuting in Hawaii this month could spell out the next step in patient-doctor interactions. The New York Times reported that America Well, a Web-oriented health company, is offering short, online doctors’ visits; enabling doctors to view patients, access medical histories and issue prescriptions. Hawaii, with its many islands and rural areas, presented itself as a logical place to employ online medicine. This service is likely to be rolled out in other states, as D.C. lobbyists look to expand access to healthcare. This service will be available to Hawaiians insured through a division of Blue Cross-Blue Shield, as well as to uninsured patients, for a slightly higher fee.

While “online diagnosis” would certainly have its limitations, and critics worry doctors could overlook potentially important indicators online, Oahu-based family physician Robert Sussman explained it this way: “It’s a tool to help doctors do better, the way a stethoscope is a tool,” he said. “You still have to use your common sense, your medical knowledge.” Another concern remains regarding access to broadband for the poor and uninsured – though one recent study found that two-thirds of the uninsured population use broadband at home.

Read more form The New York Times “Doctors Will Make Web Call in Hawaii” here.

Posted by staff at January 8, 2009 02:03 PM