The cost of medical care is becoming more expensive than ever, leaving close to 50 million Americans uninsured and putting them at risk of getting gravely ill from ailments that could be prevented if caught early. While the US spends more money than all other industrial nations on medical care, we still have the highest rate of citizens who do not receive adequate medical care.
In the long run, this ends up costing us more. In light of this, healthcare providers across the country are starting to utilize technology to help patients receive some form of medical care that is affordable and effective. Thus, Carena, Inc., a healthcare solutions provider, has teamed up with CareSimple, a medical service provider that uses technology to give access to doctors and health care practitioners 24/7.
The idea of getting medical care through your webcam or phone might seem gimmicky, but most visits to the doctor’s office are not necessary. According to the American Medical Association, 70 percent of doctor office visits and 40 percent of emergency visits are not necessary. This means that seven out of 10 people could obtain the same service without having to physically go to the doctor’s office. This data is one of many reasons that services are being increasingly offered using webcams or telephones.
The reason people go to a doctor’s office unnecessarily is because they think it could be something much worse. We’ve all been at fault here, where we somehow end up on a cautioning website searching symptoms and the like. It is very understandable because most of us are not doctors and we would rather be safe than sorry; however, if there’s a service that is able to provide you with the same answer but allows you to save time on traveling and money, then it will be well worth it.
This is essentially the goal behind this development.
“CareSimple is leveraging technology to deliver simple, effective and affordable help to consumers seeking medical care. Our Seattle-based medical team is specially trained in the use of technology to diagnose and treat every day healthcare issues like the flu, bladder and sinus infections, or rashes. We are not a nurse line. We are healthcare for the way we live and work today,” said Ralph C. Derrickson, CEO of Carena.
CareSimple uses emergency medical doctors and nurse practitioners who are board-certified in their respective states and specially trained to offer diagnosis using webcams and telephones. Traditional house calls are also an option if it is necessary. The company claims 98 percent of patients that have received care through this method are satisfied, and they have treated more than 300,000 patients so far.
Members of CareSimple can make unlimited visits for $5, while non-members will have to pay a steep $85 per visit. The company also offers a special for new patients for only $10 for the first appointment. This membership provides access to a library of accurate health information that is always being updated with the latest information. Members pay a fee of $35 for families and $25 for individuals.
While we all like to Google our condition and try to diagnose ourselves, more often than not we end up going to the doctor and finding out how wrong we were from the start. The CareSimple platform seems to offer the best of both worlds; the speed of technology and the reliability of a true medical professional.
Edited by
Allison Boccamazzo
