With Teladoc, the Doctor Will See You Now ... Really!

If you're tired of the dysfunction in Washington -- the backbiting, the questioning of motives, the failure to agree on much of anything, the one-upmanship, the allegations about a "stolen" presidential election, Russian "collusion," the posturing and boorish behavior -- how about focusing on something that is working and benefits a growing number of people?

Consider a company called Teladoc, which provides access to a doctor through a computer screen, telephone, or mobile app. The waiting time, a company official tells me, is between eight and ten minutes. That beats any doctor's office I have ever been in, even with an appointment. The company claims a 95 percent satisfaction rate with 92 percent of issues resolved after the first visit.

Here's how it works. Say your child wakes up in the middle of the night with a fever or some other health issue. You go to your computer, phone or mobile app and describe the symptoms to the doctor, who then prescribes treatment. It can be in the form of a prescription or, if the symptoms seem more serious, the doctor will recommend a specialist or a trip to the hospital. The doctor has previously been provided your family's medical history through the app.

Teladoc services are offered through a subscribing company's insurance plan. The company currently serves 10,000 clients and 20 million members, according to a company spokeswoman. All physicians are board certified and licensed in their respective states. They are available any hour of the day or night and every day of the year. Is your doctor that accessible? Unless you live with one, probably not.

Jason Gorevic, Teladoc's CEO, tells me: "Consumers of health care are looking for a better way. Regardless of the political environment, there is a growing demand for a better way to provide medical services to individuals."

Gorevic says Teladoc is especially helpful to people living in rural areas where a doctor is not close by, or unavailable.

Reporting on this growing and popular trend in telemedicine, health care writer Bruce Japsen wrote in Forbes magazine: "Health plans see a way for patients to get high-quality care from a physician and the potential to avoid a more expensive trip to a hospital emergency room." Teladoc executives also say they are seeing growth opportunities in mental health, dermatology and smoking cessation programs.

Japsen adds that the field of virtual medicine is growing about ten percent per year with projections it will soon reach 26.9 million, which seems likely given the current spurt.

Gorevic sees increasing interest from health plans that contract with state Medicaid programs for poor Americans, as well as Medicare Advantage plans that provide benefits to seniors. This could save time and money by reducing trips to emergency rooms for less serious ailments.

Let's review: A health plan that bypasses government bureaucracy; rapid access to a doctor who knows a family's medical history; prompt treatment, or quick referral; low cost -- what's not to like?

It is another example of how the private sector, when it is allowed to innovate and flourish, outshines the federal government almost every time.

Virtual medicine, led by companies like Teladoc, is not the wave of the future, but of the present.

If you're unhappy with increasingly expensive, impersonal and slow access to medical care -- and some liberal politicians are already pushing for single-payer, which would likely make waiting times longer and lower the quality of treatment -- you might feel a lot better, while saving money and time, by going virtual.

it’s funny to see this post. When I was visiting family in Pittsburgh a month ago, I had a serious sinus infection. My husband’s company sent out cards for Teledoc as part of their health program. I decided I would call them (first time) since I had zero desire to go to an urgent care if I could help it.

I call and they set up a virtual appt to “see” a doctor. That appointment could be right then or they would call you back at your appointment time. A nurse on the phone goes over your symptoms, get some health background and then has the doctor call you at your appt. time. Since mine appt time was set for then the doctor called me right back. Doctor calls and discusses the issue for like 5 minutes and then prescribes to me an antibiotic which they immediately called into the nearest pharmacy. No waiting at a doctors office...it was awesome. On the back of my teledoc card it said I could be charged $40. I ended up paying nothing (maybe due to company plan). They did ask me an unusual question which maybe played a part in not being charged. They asked “what would you have done if you could not have used this type of service”. I said “I would have sucked it up and went back home not seeing anyone”. Maybe if I said something like “I would have gone to an urgent care” then they would have charged ... with it being free I was shocked and happily surprised. Either way I didn’t feel $40 was bad either for the time saved.

Great experience and I would absolutely do it again...I don’t think they can prescribe pain meds but for colds, flus, etc they can help. I think you could also set up an appt via skype if you needed to show them an issue.

Anyway, that’s my story...to me WORTH IT!

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