Would you use virtual medicine?

[Marie]

Have you ever wished you could just email your doctor to ask a quick question? What if you could IM her? Or do a videoconference?

Virtual Medicine is on its way, at least, according to the Boston Globe.

Their article discusses some current virtual medicine "pilots" taking place in America - one study here in Boston, and another taking place in Hawaii.

I wasn't surprised to learn that the program in Hawaii was using software designed by American Well, a Boston-based Health 2.0 company that's looking to bring virtual medicine to patients through their insurance companies.

At first, I was a bit surprised by the price point - $10 for 10 minutes of online chat or video conference with a doctor? That seemed steep until I remembered that the average doctor's appointment lasts about 15 minutes - my copay is definitely more than $15, though. For simple questions like, "How serious is this?" etc. that pricing seems more than reasonable.

I was also a little surprised that HelloHealth didn't get mentioned in the Globe article (a little city rivalry, perhaps?) Dr Jay Parkinson has been working hard to provide his patients with a whole host of virtual medicine options (in addition to more traditional appointments) for some time now.

I think I love the idea of virtual medicine, the convenience, the practicality, but I'm still a little apprehensive. Could my doctor really diagnose me without even seeing me?

I'm sure the answer is "Yes, sometimes." But it's still going to take me a little while to get used to.

So, would you use virtual medicine if it was available to you?

[Lorraine Blum]

I think it is a great idea.
I myself use Energy Psychology in my practice, which can be used on the telephone or the web, as Distant Healing is one of the modalities. In fact I have a site just to list all those that offer this service from around the world. It is free and called international Distant Healers.com I hope that it will help those looking for a certain Distant Therapist. Right now it is just there for free listings. Thought Field Therapy by Roger Callahan offers training in what they call Voice Technology. I believe we are going to see a lot more of this in the future. Lorraine Blum

[juliacantor]

What an interesting topic. I agree with this entire thread as to the pros and cons. It could also be helpful in off-hours. I can recall a time I brought my brother to the emergency room on a Sunday because he needed medication for a severe sinus infection and could not get to his primary care doctor on the weekend. In this type of circumstance it could make receiving care more accessible and avoid the higher emergency room fees. However, I am not convinced that I would trust it.

[amanda]

Back in June I commented that I thought virtual medicine could be applied to the mental health community as "virtual therapy treatment." And today, I read an article today that mentions virtual cognitive behavior therapy for insomniacs. I thought it was a really cool idea and a big step in the direction of "virtual medicine."

If people can receive therapy (CBT in this case) over the internet, more people will have access to treatment and be able to attend treatment sessions even if it becomes difficult to leave home (whether it be from overtiredness, medication, pain, or fear - you no longer have to get in the car or take public transit to a therapy appointment). I think that access is key.

This particular CBT for insomnia treatment is about $25 and involves a program that uses your sleep diary to calculate a sleep schedule that's right for you. You have to stick close to the "rules" but over time, it's proven effective in treating insomnia by slowly increasing sleep hours. That's pretty great.

The best part is that you don't have to leave the house or pay more than once. It puts a lot of responsibility on the patient, who must really desire to change in order to stick with the program. But isn't this a big part of therapy? Truly wanting to be there? I wonder how effective this would be compared to face-to-face therapy? Depending on the treatment program, and if the person were savvy with technology, it could work just as well - in my opinion.

I'm not sure how this therapy would work on other ailments. Would CBT online be effective for all its uses on mental illness, depression, and even correctionally for criminals?

I wonder what others think about this new online therapy approach. Would you trust it?

[Mindjet]

It would have to depend on the reason I'm seeking medical attention. If it's just to get a refill of a particular medication, then yes.

I can't get my doctors to do phone consultations with me on the phone though, so I really don't see why adding a face on a computer screen with audio would be any different. I disagree strongly with the Boston Globe's position on this issue. There will be a handful of docs, probably in C.A. somewhere, who will embrace it. It just won't catch on in any meaningful way. Doctors need to do things like, monitor your blood pressure and your body temperature, as well as heart rate and weight. They need to look in your mouth, down your throat, examine your sinuses through your nose, check the main canal in your ear. Another reason it won't catch on is that it really doesn't let the doctor interpret your body language and expressions when responding to their questions - their entire practice is to ask the right questions and consider your answers both verbal and non-verbal in order to figure out what wrong with you and how to help you. They're not robots or group of talking heads. Without direct patient - doctor contact, the quality of our healthcare will plummet.

BIG FAT "NOW WAY" FROM ME. peace all