Dr. On Demand????!!!!!

3 I just saw a commercial for a thing called "Dr. on Demand," where you basically Skype a doctor and they can write you prescriptions etc.

While it could be convenient, this seems a little crazy.

What do y'all think?
Whoa... first reaction for me is... how can a Dr really treat a patient they cannot touch or even be in the same room as? Aren't there many parts of tx and dx that require being in the same room??

Sounds fishy.

Dr. Phil helped develop it. He "uses" it all the time on his show. I have see him hawking this for at least a year. I am sure there are very strict limitations. I have called the nurse on call for BCBS for advice and they are useless. I personally would not use one, but there may be a niche out there. I think it is pricey, too.

My healthcare system currently utilizes this in a limited capacity. It's good for things like the sniffles.

Interesting. They have lactation consultants at that website as well.

I wonder how far it can go. Like it's got to be easy to fake a cough or a sore throat and get antibiotics. It's not like they can listen to your lungs or get a good look at your tonsils, especially if you have a poor quality web cam. And what if you tell them you're having chest pain or trouble breathing?

Sounds similar to Stat Doctors that some employers are including with medical insurance now! Some of my coworkers swear by it.

Would possibly work for well-supported, well-educated patients, possibly chronic and more or less stable, who know what to do and only need general directions. I would like to have just such an option while traveling so that I could just call and get my Medrol dose pack if the climate happening to be too much for my asthma. Also would be great for people who lost/forgot/accidentally checked out bag with a medicine in it. Minute clinics do not exist everywhere and mid-levels who staff them are obviously have to be very careful with the whole range of prescription meds.

Quote from KatieMIWould possibly work for well-supported, well-educated patients, possibly chronic and more or less stable, who know what to do and only need general directions. I would like to have just such an option while traveling so that I could just call and get my Medrol dose pack if the climate happening to be too much for my asthma. Also would be great for people who lost/forgot/accidentally checked out bag with a medicine in it. Minute clinics do not exist everywhere and mid-levels who staff them are obviously have to be very careful with the whole range of prescription meds.