As per the statistics, one in four American doctors is conducting e-medicine – consulting with patients online. The e-medicine trend is growing rapidly in North America. With a good response, online medical consultations have won the support of the American Medical Association which has led to a growing number of insurers. According to the Kaiser Permanente reports, an integrated health care organization they have come to a conclusion that members with diabetes and hypertension are more engaged in the recommended care.
One web-based e-medicine service provider facilitates web visits for approximately 13 health insurers and 25,000 healthcare providers. As per the statistics, patients log-in to a secure and reliable sites to choose over 150 non-urgent medical issues including colds and cough, flu, allergies, diabetes, arthritis, fever, back pain and post-operative care. The patient participates in an interactive online interview and later a summary of problem is sent to a doctor. Usually, a doctor responds back within a short time period say within 24 hours. For the convenience of patients, they can also use the website to book their appointments with their doctor.
There are some e-medicine sites which provide facilities like emailing, secure instant messaging and webcam visits with physicians. The ability to interact with a doctor online has become a real benefit for patients who work in normal office hours. Some sites provide interaction with your personal physician, while other sites offer consultations with doctors other than your own.
According to a spokesperson from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, approximately 93% of their members are very satisfied from the new care model.
