| Telemedicine, the formal term for online doctor | | | | options people preferred. The great thing about |
| consultation services, is an industry that is growing | | | | telemedicine is that it offers something for |
| and changing rapidly, providing anyone and | | | | everyone, and you don't have to be a computer |
| everyone with access to the medical treatment | | | | genius to use it. Many people who can use basic |
| and care that they deserve. In 2009, telemedicine | | | | email functions and fill out a form can benefit |
| made many new strides, including adding itself to | | | | from online medical consultations, and the future |
| the covered benefits of many insurance plans. An | | | | of the industry is in making it simpler for patients |
| online medical service can offer less expensive | | | | to gain access to the healthcare that they need. |
| treatment options, a chance for better | | | | In 2008, 36% of the physicians in the U.S. |
| attendance at work, and simple, easy | | | | reported using online services to communicate |
| management of acute illnesses and simple | | | | with patients. That number has risen in 2009, and |
| conditions. About 95% of the people who have | | | | it is predicted that the number of physicians who |
| used online medical consultations in 2009 were | | | | adopt and use smart phones in telemedicine and |
| able to be completely treated without any | | | | online doctor consultations will rise to about 81% |
| face-to-face interaction with a doctor. | | | | by 2012. That's a substantial increase. However, |
| With telehealth equipment averaging costs | | | | with all of the complications surrounding |
| between $10,000 and $100,000, it can be quite | | | | healthcare, including the lack of insurance by many |
| expensive to provide these services to patients. | | | | and the lack of time or effort to go to the |
| However, that is not stopping hundreds of | | | | doctor by others, it's only natural for doctors to |
| doctors, clinics and medical service providers from | | | | want to find a way to keep in touch with |
| giving it a try. While most current telemedicine | | | | customers. When they won't come to you, you |
| services treat over the phone or via email, video | | | | find ways to bring healthcare to them, and that's |
| conferencing is slated to be a big part of the | | | | what online doctors and online medical |
| future success of this industry as technology | | | | consultations are doing. |
| improves. People already use video conferencing | | | | Until recently, online medical services have always |
| for many different things in their lives. Putting the | | | | hidden in the shadows behind the scams and fake |
| technology into the hands of medical professionals | | | | solicitations for 'pain meds online with no |
| is just a matter of equipment costs and | | | | prescription' and other common medication scams |
| implementation. | | | | that have been running rampant online. However, |
| In a survey done this year, 50% of the people | | | | as more people turn to the actual online medical |
| surveyed answered that internet or computer | | | | community (where the prescription of controlled |
| technology used for healthcare would be | | | | substances is illegal and the management of |
| something that they would try. Roughly 76% of | | | | serious illnesses is not possible), its reputation is |
| those who were interested in telemedicine replied | | | | growing strong. In the future, telemedicine will |
| that their preferred method of contact was | | | | likely be the only reason that some patients are |
| e-mail consultation, while phone calls, Q & A | | | | able to get medical consultations at all. |
| sessions, and online forums were the other | | | | |