As telemedicine continues to grow, it is becoming easier and easier to see a doctor. Now, thanks to various websites, it’s possible to visit a doctor without even leaving the comfort of your own home.
Patients communicate with a doctor via instant messaging and the phone, and can receive diagnosis and medication prescriptions. The service is quick, easy, available 24 hours a day, and is much cheaper than a regular doctor’s visit.
Companies such as General Electric and Delta Air Lines are also embracing telemedicine, encouraging employees to explore telemedicine as an alternative to a visit to the doctor. Because of large corporation adoption, it is projected that the telemedicine industry will triple to $27.3 by 2016.
Obstacles to Overcome
As telemedicine continues to grow in popularity, telemedicine companies such as NowClinic and Virtuwell are still finding that there are some major obstacles to overcome.
Many states have strict laws regarding interstate doctor visits, which is preventing telemedicine from spreading. In 2010, the Texas Medical Board passed a ruling that prevents doctors from treating new patients via telemedicine, unless the patient has been evaluated and referred by a physician that has seen the patient in person.
While telemedicine proponents say that these antiquated laws prevent the spread of the field, state boards insist the rulings are there to ensure accountability. If a telemedicine doctor were to prescribe the wrong medication to a patient, there would be no state board to answer to. Despite this, medical boards in places such as Tennessee, Nevada, and New Mexico are loosening restrictions on telemedicine.
Despite more and more people turning to online telemedicine, companies insist that their service is not intended to replace face-to-face doctor visits. In fact, representatives for VirtuWell say they have turned away more than 45,000 perspective patients because their problems required in-person consultations. Telemedicine websites tend to treat illnesses such as pink eye, sinus infections, and skin rashes.
Insurance Companies Embrace Telemedicine
Despite the growing pains of the industry, insurance companies such as UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna are jumping on board with telemedicine.
Because telemedicine websites typically only charge about $40 per “visit,” insurance companies see it as a cheap alternative to doctors visits. Some insurance companies, such as UnitedHealthcare, are even offering their own versions of telemedicine. UnitedHealthcare runs NowClinic, a telemedicine website that treats thousands of patients.
As more and more people begin to see the benefits of telemedicine, analysts predict that the industry will continue to grow. While there are some real problems to conquer, proponents for the industry are optimistic for what the future holds.
originally posted on apexrx