OVERVIEW
100 year ago, phone calls from doctors were the most common form of health care in America. Today, that number is less than 1%. The two main reasons are the growth of large cities and the use of complex medical equipment in medical evaluation. It is much more efficient for doctors to have patients come to them instead of the other way around.
The problem is that this system is not great for patients. Add to that the rising cost of health care, and up to 80% of the population forego preventive health care altogether. This leads to higher costs as these people are likely to must significant medical care. The Affordable Care Act put more people in the role of health care. But, there are not enough doctors to meet this need. The American Medical Association predicts a shortage of 90,000 doctors by 2025.
BRING BACK HOME CALLS
One solution to the problem is to return the home call. But how do you do that? One forward-thinking doctor took a page out of Uber's playbook. Uber is a ride-sharing taxi service that uses an app to book appointments. This doctor created a company called Heal that allows patients to use an app to book an appointment with a doctor. Think of it as primary health care on demand.
HOW DOES IT WORK
The company created a network of doctors who agreed to be on call at least two days a week. Every doctor should have a medical assistant to guide the driver while the doctor surveys their next visit. The doctor would spend up to an hour with each patient. They don't have to rush their schedule and can spend more time with their patients. One problem is that it still doesn't keep costs down because it's expensive to drive around and pay someone to do it.
Patients chatted with the nurse. The nurse will then decide if the visit is necessary. Otherwise, the patient would receive a consultation via video chat. The cost is a flat fee of $99 per visit. Currently, most insurance plans do not cover it, so it is out of pocket for the patient.
BENEFIT FOR THE PATIENT
The main benefit for patients is comfort, especially for the elderly and ill. It is not easy for them to go to the doctor. Next are complete physical exams. How many times have you gone to the doctor only to have them take a blood sample and tell you to come back in a few weeks (and pay another co-pay)? Doctors now spend up to one hour with a patient, and that patient does not have to wait in line. Currently, a five-minute visit can take several hours.
ADVANTAGE FOR PHYSICIANS
The main benefit for doctors is that their time is spent caring for patients instead of being wasted on administrative duties. As mentioned earlier, there is no need to rush into appointments. Another is the overhead costs of running the practice. Heal currently uses a doctor two days a week. These doctors only need to keep the office open for three days. Doctors can choose to use a service like this, reducing administrative costs.
BENEFITS FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
America's population is aging. By 2030, more than 70 million people will be aged 65 and over. The need for health care will be considerable. Assisted living facilities cannot meet this need on their own. App services like Heal can help fill this need by keeping doctors in the system. Plus, Medicare costs are going through the roof. In 10 years, Medicare could represent a $1.2 trillion budget. Such a system is not sustainable. The main expense is the use of emergency rooms. According to co-founder Renee Due, Heel's services could save emergency room use by 60%.
CONCLUSION
America's healthcare system faces significant challenges. Apps like Heal are one way to address these challenges. They offer a way to reduce costs, meet the needs of an aging population, and offer doctors an incentive to stay in the system. Currently, most physicians are primary care physicians. As this business model evolves, specialists can also come on board.
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