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The National Center for Policy Analysis and The Center for HealthTransformation have both recently released comprehensive reports about the useof information technology for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients'conditions. Both reports detail the problems in the current healthcare systemand profile how innovative companies are using the Internet, improvements incomputer software and the advent of high-speed telecommunications networks ininnovative ways to make medical care more accessible and convenient topatients, to raise quality and to reduce costs. Both studies independentlyconclude that companies offering such services will enjoy rapid adoption oftheir services and growth in the coming months.
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Consult A Doctor members have unlimited access to consult with physiciansby phone or secure e-mail from anywhere, day or night. All it takes is aphone call or Internet access to consult with a doctor fast, eliminatingunnecessary trips to the doctor or emergency room. Members can even beprescribed medication if appropriate for common illnesses and have it calledinto their local pharmacy or sent directly via overnight delivery."Accessible by anyone, from anywhere ... 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365days a year, the benefits in a time of need are truly priceless, but we areable to offer them for pennies a day." Says Wolf Shlagman, Consult A Doctorfounder and CEO.
According to the American Medical Association up to 70% of doctor office
visits are merely informational and unnecessary and could be avoided with a
Consult A Doctor's proven and convenient solutions dramatically reduceunnecessary visits to the doctor or emergency room, allowing membersalternatives to visiting their primary care physician purely for information,refills and other basic reasons. This correlates to less time off work forminor health issues, increased productivity and reduced overall healthcareclaims and costs by up to 25%.
Employers realize savings and increased productivity from lowerabsenteeism attributable to preventable illness and unnecessary doctors'office visits, lower costs to the employer and employee for not having to payfor those visits, and prevention education that improves the overall health ofthe employees.
The American Journal of Health Promotion recently found a 26% reduction inhealthcare costs and 28% reduction in sick leave absenteeism in companies with
The Center for Health Transformation recently released a report entitled:"Telephone Medical Consults Answer the Call for Accessible, Affordable andConvenient Healthcare". According to the report, "America's healthcarefacilities and medical professionals are perceived as the best in the world.Yet our healthcare system appears to be outdated or even broken, withpersistent challenges regarding access to care, quality, affordability andconvenience". The report contends the current healthcare system is failingand needs a complete overhaul. And that "telephonic medical consultsperformed by qualified family practice physicians are now proving
