Virtual doctor?

So I got an email from my health insurance company today (United Health Care) giving me the option to register for virtual visits, a program they are implementing where you use a mobile device or tablet/computer to video chat with a doctor, presumably on standby. The body of the email says:



Then it says:



Part of me thinks it's a great idea...part of me has to wonder about misdiagnosis and the lack of ability to take vitals.

What are your thoughts?

I can think of instances that it is awesome. Especially for things like chronic UTI's and sinus issues. The last thing I want to do is drive a half hour to painfully try to pee in a cup, when i could go 15 minutes to walgreens and not pee in my own bathroom.

also i can see it helpful in situations where bosses are being d***s* and requesting a doctor's note for every absence. You can have a note sent to you, without have to have your contagious a** out of bed to infect everyone else with a cold that is going to go away on its own with rest and time.

*my boss pulled that crap on me last year because she can't schedule or track my leave. She kept thinking I was out of leave when I had over a week left. So the next time I had a Dr appointment, I had them fill out FMLA so she'd back the f*** off. Also, her note requirement only applied to me...not everyone else under her, which was the crappy part. Also, I'm not sure if she thought I was lying that I wanted off for a med appointment, I'd rather be at work than being stabbed by the dr. It also worked out better for me as I took off the full 12 weeks of FMLA instead of the three weeks I would have if kept trying to please her. I finally decided I was talking care of myself, and if she didn't like it, f*** it.

A Rectal examination could be fun... so many possibilities there...

But on a serious note...

Vitals: A Blood Pressure Monitor With Pulse Oximeter could be plugged into the computer, or uploaded/sinked by way of an app... maybe with temperature also.

My girlfriend's fitbit sinks to weight scales, so that would be easy to add.

Really almost all vitals would be taken with some sort of app &/or devise linked to one's computer.

Blood work and urine are a different issue, but it "we" went this way as a culture, those could be tied in as well.

I would trust this virtual doctor again.

one day last week, I had annual psychical on my computer, and take a hand of the doctor came out of the screen check my prostate. not only he check mime out, he stole my wallet, too.

It could be used as triage. If the Dr. (or computer) on the other end, based on information given, thinks you should be seen in person then you make an appointment or schedule a specialist.

Patient: I have a sore throat
Dr. Gaggle, if it does not get better by in a day or two call back.

Patient: I have chest pain, I am short of breath and all sweaty.
Dr. Call 911

A nurse trained in triage could handle the call.

My Dr. has this strange fascination with my butt. She already has a rubber glove on when she comes in the exam room. Personally I would shy away from occupations that entailed giving rectal exams.

you know the difference rectal and oral thermometer?

the taste!

what green and white and slime over hospital walls?

mucus welby

I have UHC too and saw something about that.
Haven't tried it yet.

Our local hospital conglomerate uses something called "MyChart" for us to communicate with our Dr or NP.

But's it not live / facetime stuff.

Mike: My primary care provider has something like that. They call it the patient portal. Call or send private email and the np tells you what to do next. And ...and it is free.

my doctor has the same services, too. I think they change the term instead " patent portal " to anything else. the doctor seal already your portal once a year, when he does prostate exam on you.

Yeah, and when she checks out Burt and Ernie she is not exactly gental. The snuffleupagus shrivels and I grimis.... no happy ending