WDYT about call-in doctor services?

[arch01]

My insurance uses teladoc.com and one of the hospital groups around here is starting call-in/video services. 

I think it's awesome to use, I used it at 5:45 this morning for a call about my sinus infection. $10 copay, she called in a prescription and it was ready to go when the pharmacy opened. 

I've used it in the past to get a diagnosis for a fungal infection (you can send pictures), but I couldn't get a prescription because it requires liver monitoring. 

I posted on Twitter and everyone's like "OMG that's absurd!!!" I get it has its risks, and I'm not sure I'd use it for DS (teladoc takes patients from young children on up), but it's super convenient. No taking off half a day to get a doctor's appointment with travel and all for something simple.

You can link it up to all of your other medical records and it talks back to my PCP's records. I also have a $10 copay for Minute Clinic-seems our insurance is pushing us to use convenience for simple things and keep the colds/flu out of the PCP's offices. 

WDYT about this service? Do you/would you/have you used it? I'm not sure about the limits-they asked me a slew of questions but I don't know where their limits are for diagnosing things.

[smile]

It is going to be a benefit to my insurance starting Jan. 1st. I'm excited about it because it would be convenient for my sinus issues. I wouldn't use it for DD, but for me or DH I think it can be great, especially for early morning/late nights or weekends.

[mlt]

I would definitely use it.

[tommygirl03]

I think I want to know more about this! It seems like a great idea for run of the mill illnesses - strep, bronchitis, etc. I, for example, have gotten bronchitis pretty consistently since childhood. I KNOW when I have it. I don't need to see a doc - just give me a scrip and call it a day. This would be perfect for that kind of thing. Wastes far less of everyone's time. *off to see if my plan covers it....

[Deleted]

I would absolutely use it and wish my insurance had an offering like this. I know when I have a UTI, I don't need to go to the doc!

[orangeblossom]

I've been hearing commercials about this service, and I would definitely do it, especially for something that you could easily see the signs of an issue.

Hope you feel better soon.

[arch01]

Dec 26, 2014 12:24:42 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

I would love this for some things, like sinus infections. I don't think it can replace a real office visit for most problems though. I definitely wouldn't use it for the kids. We took dd2 in for a cough this week and she was diagnosed with a double ear infection. She had no signs of an ear infection, no fever.

Yeah, that's my hesitation about using it on kids. It's not an issue for us since DS is on a separate plan, but even last week when he had suspected pink eye, it was nice to have someone to look in his ears to check for an EI since he doesn't display many other symptoms.

The list of questions they went through was pretty impressive too, I felt it was in depth enough for simple things. Asking about wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, rapid pulse, etc. I wouldn't feel comfortable using it if I was having wheezing/shortness of breath, I feel like that's something where someone should really take a listen instead of just talk on the phone/video chat.

[jeaniebueller]

We just started teladoc through our insurance. I can definitely see its usefulness, like if you have a kid who has recurrent issues or needs a second round of antibiotics. Or like the time that DS had pink eye, then my H and I both got it within 2 days. Situations when you obviously kind of already know what your issue is and just need a prescription. I will definitely take advantage of it when needed. Plus, I can see using it for situations when we are out of town and not nearby our usual doctor or walkin clinic.

[arch01]

Dec 26, 2014 12:31:41 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

I've been hearing commercials about this service, and I would definitely do it, especially for something that you could easily see the signs of an issue.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks! I went a week thinking it'd go away, but it has gotten bad the past couple of days. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end!

[arch01]

Dec 26, 2014 12:33:29 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

We just started teladoc through our insurance. I can definitely see its usefulness, like if you have a kid who has recurrent issues or needs a second round of antibiotics. Or like the time that DS had pink eye, then my H and I both got it within 2 days. Situations when you obviously kind of already know what your issue is and just need a prescription. I will definitely take advantage of it when needed. Plus, I can see using it for situations when we are out of town and not nearby our usual doctor or walkin clinic.

I hadn't thought of the out of town thing. Yeah, that's another perk. They already have the info and you choose what state you're in when receiving the call so you get someone from that state.

[southernbelle]

Not a fan honestly. I think it is going to lead to a lot of unnecessary antibiotics being prescribed and adding to the already big problem of antibiotic resistance. For example, most "sinus infections " seen in the pcp office are just viral colds that will resolve in 10 to 14 days. Technically with the current recommendations, no antibiotics should be given unless you are past the 14 days and they are even supposed to start tracking whether docs are following this on the new EMRs. I have seen several people who used these services after only being ill for 2 days and were given antibiotics that weren't even the first line recommended antibiotics. I also think that other potentially dangerous things could be missed i.e. we saw a person recently who was adamant that he was getting pneumonia and needed antibiotics when he actually had new onset Atrial Fibrillation and was admitted to the hospital.

[water*drop]

Like PPs, I'd definitely use it for run-of-the-mill stuff for DH or me. I wouldn't use it for DD because she's not really old enough to describe what hurts clearly, etc, so I'd be worried about missing something.

[zeewifeandmama]

MH used it on Wed to diagnose a throat infection. It was a godsend- he's already feeling much better. I'm not sure I'd use it for the kids, but I like the option to use it for us. I don't think it will replace our reg doctor, but it's a nice option.

[sent]

Where is this teledoc located? I wonder how this impacts state licensing issues. Like the doctor is licensed in New York, but the patient is located in Pennsylvania. What's to stop insurance companies from just tele-sending you to a doc in India?

[arch01]

Dec 26, 2014 12:46:51 GMT -5 sent said:

Where is this teledoc located? I wonder how this impacts state licensing issues. Like the doctor is licensed in New York, but the patient is located in Pennsylvania. What's to stop insurance companies from just tele-sending you to a doc in India?

You select what state you're located in when you receive the call. The 3 times I've used it-I had 1 call that came from within my zip code and 2 that came from Raleigh.

[karinothing]

I am mixed. I think it could be hugely benfical in rural areas with doctor shortages. I do worry about the over use of antibiotics. Do they encourage follow up in person visits?

[ladygrey]

I used our service (Virtuwell) a few weeks ago when I thought I had a UTI. After taking the antibiotics, it still didn't clear up, so I went to see my regular doctor and it turned out not to be a UTI. My doctor said that if you need to have lab work done, it's just best to go into see someone so it can be diagnosed correctly the first time.

I thought the online service was great; very quick and easy to use and I'll definitely try it again sometime.

[zeewifeandmama]

Dec 26, 2014 13:20:14 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I am mixed. I think it could be hugely benfical in rural areas with doctor shortages. I do worry about the over use of antibiotics. Do they encourage follow up in person visits?

The doc that spoke to MH advised him to have someone see him on Monday

[arch01]

Dec 26, 2014 13:20:14 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I am mixed. I think it could be hugely benfical in rural areas with doctor shortages. I do worry about the over use of antibiotics. Do they encourage follow up in person visits?

They didn't today-but they have in the past. 

[thecatinthehat]

Dec 26, 2014 12:46:51 GMT -5 sent said:

Where is this teledoc located? I wonder how this impacts state licensing issues. Like the doctor is licensed in New York, but the patient is located in Pennsylvania. What's to stop insurance companies from just tele-sending you to a doc in India?

As far as I know the doc has to have license in that state. Sometimes they are out of state but as long as they have the state license...

[christy082]

Dec 26, 2014 12:30:51 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

I would absolutely use it and wish my insurance had an offering like this. I know when I have a UTI, I don't need to go to the doc!

Yup. I used teledoc last year at 12:30am when I woke up with a UTI. Within an hour I was picking up my antibiotics at the 24 hour pharmacy.

[Deleted]

Dec 26, 2014 19:43:40 GMT -5 christy082 said:

Dec 26, 2014 12:30:51 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

I would absolutely use it and wish my insurance had an offering like this. I know when I have a UTI, I don't need to go to the doc!

Yup. I used teledoc last year at 12:30am when I woke up with a UTI. Within an hour I was picking up my antibiotics at the 24 hour pharmacy.

This is exactly why I think it's so useful. Once I called my doc on a Monday saying I had a UTI and needed to get in, and anyone that's ever had a UTI knows how horribly uncomfortable they are. They couldn't see me until THURSDAY! I laughed, said "really?" and she said "yeah sorry, we're really booked." I asked her if she'd ever had a UTI and been told to wait 4 days to be seen and she was like "yeah all the time." Liar!

I went to urgent care. Teladoc could have saved my insurance money, but no!