The newest thing with my insurance..the Teledoc.

For many years our oldest hospital had a Ask-a-nurse line. I used it alot. It is amazing what they can determine. You will want to have a temperature gage and other medical supplies and they will probably have you do alot of the basics and answer alot of questions. I used it alot even when the kids were small.

That would benefit me, the worry wart. Instead of waiting to just get a simple, it's nothing comment, it would save me time and money. And I remember the last visit to my doc, it was pretty much what you described for the Teledoc, I told her my symptoms and she just gave me a prescription. The don't really do anything more really unless it's something else like blood tests, etc. I think it would be helpful for the right uses.

I would not like it, as it means you are not being checked over which you should be What about if they are Symptoms of a cold or something, but it could be worse or something else and you have not been checked which means it can have a drastic after effect

I think that's great! I know when I have a cold turn to bronchitis, why do I have to pay $25 to go see the doc when I know what it is. I know that a cold won't be helped by meds, but the chest infection will. I knew when my toe got bad, I would have to go in and see the doc, I knew it was infected, and I wanted to be told, come back in 10 days if it doesn't stop hurting. Well, the infection was better, but the nail was still ingrown and needed to be trimmed out. I can't say that the option is right for every visit, but I think it would be great for those things I don't need to actually SEE a doc for.

We have something similar here, it’s called Health Direct and it is a phone line to nursing staff that question patients about their symptoms and advise them as to what to do and if or how soon they need to see a doctor. I’ve used the system before and every time it’s been suggested I go and see a doctor anyway or in one extreme case call an ambulance. It is a handy service, I’m glad it is available but I am not so sure it is saving time at the doctor’s office. The system you have their sounds better because you are able to obtain medication which is something we cannot do with Health Direct over the phone.

Sure it will have it's ups and down, however these are trained professionals and will ask all the adequate questions which will determine which route to go. So as a responsible parent you will be describing the symptoms and they will be able to determine which route to go. However, how do you determine if the patient, and in your case the sinus infection is not related to an ear infection. All antibiotics do not function the same for all illnesses. So it may have a bit of a draw back but only for the member. See you may on some occasions experiment to then later have to go in to the doctors office anyways. So it will be a bit of delay for the patient, but in all honesty you as the parent will know which is actually emergent and which can actually be phoned diagnosed.

I would try it if it worked that well without seeing the Doc I would keep doing it

Good morning, dear Jen! Sorry, so long in chiming in here...another bout of "power outages!" Jen, I applaud this NEW (old) idea! For time immemorial, Emergency Services of all forms (Drs., Nurses, Police, Fire & Ambulance) have used the "triage system" which means flagging from "acute" to "very stable," thus insisting treatment according to need. This is a modified form of triaging, that would help to clear up the back-log in the waiting room of a Dr.'s Office, and or the Emergency, ensuring those needing serious treatment are NOT rushed thru the system. So many times in the waiting room, I find those that could have been treated with a "telediagnosis." I, for one, am reluctant to visit a Dr., as I tend to trivialize my symptoms.....but I would happily phone a "teledoc" and let him ascertain whether a visit, or not is needed to the local Doc. We have a similiar service...but it is "Nurse Practioners" (whom are quasi Drs., and can prescribe.) As I am on three heart meds, sometimes it is a bit of a quandry....what OTC's can I take? I am highly allergic to wasp stings, past summer was a torrent of wasps...I got stung on the chin, within 20 minutes, the entire side of my face was like a balloon...eye swollen shut, throat starting to close up (anaphylactic shock)! Phoned the nurse hotline, and she was able to tell us, that I could take "multiple amounts" of benadryl with NO effect on my heart meds. Thank goodness, my son was here...he also phoned the pharmacy...the pharmacy in Sidney, told him to call 911 whom were going to arrange a helicopter OFF this Island. Wrong.....look at the cost to the Medical system..AND ME! The Nurse/Practioner saved me with her sage/wise advice! Thank goodness, Benadryl was available at one to the two grocery stores we have on the Island. YES, normally I have an "anal" kit, at the cost of $110.00 each.....BUT, in the past week, I had been stung so many times I had used it up! I guess what I am saying, this great phone advice saved the entire medical community thousands of dollars.....and freed up one of the three helicopters we have in B.C. for "med-evacs!" It is a GOOD system...be totally aware of your symptoms, temp, respirations, B.P., skin conditions (wet, dry, clammy) skin colour (pale, ashen, flushed, etc.,)! (Yikes, easy for me to say all this, being a retired paramedic) but it really helps for a correct diagnosis! Rainbows to you, princess! HUGZ!

good Morning Jen, i haven't heard about this. I think it would have its advantages for minor things. Insurance is such a racket i hate dealing w/them. Haven't had to in awhile, thank heavens. I know if it was something serious u would still go to the dr. just like i would. THEY SHORTCUT EVERYTHING NOWADAYS.

I'm not too sure about that. If it's something like a cold, a minor cut or pulled muscle, I can see where that would be okay but then most people know what to do for these things anyway and a doctor isn't needed. But, I think that for most things, I'd rather have a doctor SEE me. I had my son at the doctor's once because he had a lump on his neck. He was fine other than this lump... no fever, no sore throat, etc. The doctor had an idea and took a throat culture. It turned out that my son had strep throat! Imagine a lump being strep with absolutely no "normal" symptoms. That could not have been diagnosed over the phone. Nothing but a culture could have diagnosed that problem. Yeah, even though there is a copay, I'd rather go see a doctor for most things. Sure, a sinus infection is something most moms can diagnose without a doctor because most of us have dealt with enough of them to know the symptoms. We just need the doctor to prescribe the necessary antibiotics. Actually, my old doctor was one I could just call and tell I had another sinus infection and he would phone in the prescriptions... he had seen me enough times with a sinus infection to understand that I knew when I had another one. But, most doctors won't do that and insist that you come in which is stupid since a sinus infection is so common and so easy to diagnose. Then, there are times when you just don't feel well enough to make the trip in to see the doctor. I can remember a few times when there was no way I could make it in to his office. What ever happened to those old-fashioned "house calls" when the doctor would come to your house if you were too sick to make it in to their office? I remember our doctor, when I was young, would come to the house. AND, the pharmacy would deliver prescriptions! SOME things don't change for the better, that's for sure. So, there you have my opinion. I'd use the teledoc for minor things but still want to go in so the doctor could examine me for unusual or major problems.

Hi JenInTN, I recently got an SMS on my cell that they have set up such a kind of Information Center here too. I called them once and they could only give me some doctor's names and where they can be reached/contacted. I am unsure of the success of such a thing as many people who would call them would not be able to explain what is happening to them... The doctors ask several questions before writing down a prescription and I wonder how/what questions these people would ask to ascertain which medicines would be ok if not good. Also: They need to know the patients history and allergies and many people would skip telling about these... So I see it as a risky proposal

I have a similar option...talk to a nurse 24/7. I've just never used it. But then I don't go to the doctor either unless they carry me in on a stretcher. It sounds ok, but I don't know if you can really get a proper diagnosis over the phone. I'd try it, but be leary.

It can be more useful at the time of emergencies. As the doctor's service is dedicated for a group of people, the service would be readily available and they may be used with such calls or answering. Again, as this is a kind of improved service, people who are really in need will help with an immediate service. Meera

Insurance is a disease of the market, a cancer. I would much rather get good deals from the doctor because the doctor wants to give them, not because the doctor 'signed a contract with people I pay.' But becoming a doctor is more-and-more work (to repay tuition) by the doctor and less-and-less 'because the doctor was from a family of doctors.' So the doctor is forced to care less-and-less about the patients and more-and-more about his credit rating. When I'm the king of America, we'll go back onto the barter-system for a time ... something like 'banks will only accept products-and-services (not checks or other cash).'

Mixed feelings. I'd like the convenience, but there are things that the doctor might catch in an exam that he might not catch in a phone interview. So it could be risky. The doctor might not have all the information, and might make a wrong choice.