Connecting Patients and Doctors Via Mobile Virtual Visits
Connecting Patients and Doctors via Mobile Virtual Visits
Cassondra Sellers
HSC 531
April 10, 2013
Dr. David Harrell
Connecting Patients and Doctors via Mobile Virtual Visits Shortly after the turn of this century, the implementation of web-based technology began to flourish in private physician’s practices. The revolution of virtual communication allows patients and doctors to connect online without the need for a face-to-face visit. The impact of mobile virtual communication affects the quality of care, quality of life, cost, and access for patients. The creation of a virtual physician visit application produces social, ethical, and economic effects on the Apple Corporation. Defining a Virtual Physician Visit A virtual physician visit is not a face-to-face consultation. Instead Eads (2007) describes them as a meeting through en e-mail or preferably an Internet-based computer program with chat capability or even web-based cameras. The patient registers on the physician’s website and gives details of his medical record. This includes known allergies, family medical history, pre-existing conditions, previous operations or procedures, current medications, and recent ailments. The patient requests a virtual consultation in which the doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner meets for a few minutes to discuss the patient’s needs or concerns. Although not all ailments are covered using this medium, many “such as simple urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, or routine follow-up of chronic diseases” (Eads, 2007, p. 20) are included. The medical professional can prescribe medications, offer a treatment plan to overcome the current malady, or provide an educational setting for the patient. The consultation takes but a few minutes of each person’s time and requires no advance scheduling or travel time. The cost usually varies from $25 to $50 and is generally borne completely by
Cassondra Sellers
HSC 531
April 10, 2013
Dr. David Harrell
Connecting Patients and Doctors via Mobile Virtual Visits Shortly after the turn of this century, the implementation of web-based technology began to flourish in private physician’s practices. The revolution of virtual communication allows patients and doctors to connect online without the need for a face-to-face visit. The impact of mobile virtual communication affects the quality of care, quality of life, cost, and access for patients. The creation of a virtual physician visit application produces social, ethical, and economic effects on the Apple Corporation. Defining a Virtual Physician Visit A virtual physician visit is not a face-to-face consultation. Instead Eads (2007) describes them as a meeting through en e-mail or preferably an Internet-based computer program with chat capability or even web-based cameras. The patient registers on the physician’s website and gives details of his medical record. This includes known allergies, family medical history, pre-existing conditions, previous operations or procedures, current medications, and recent ailments. The patient requests a virtual consultation in which the doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner meets for a few minutes to discuss the patient’s needs or concerns. Although not all ailments are covered using this medium, many “such as simple urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, or routine follow-up of chronic diseases” (Eads, 2007, p. 20) are included. The medical professional can prescribe medications, offer a treatment plan to overcome the current malady, or provide an educational setting for the patient. The consultation takes but a few minutes of each person’s time and requires no advance scheduling or travel time. The cost usually varies from $25 to $50 and is generally borne completely by
References: Eads, M. (2007, October). Virtual office visits: a reachable and reimbursable innovation.. Family Practice Management, 14(9), 20-2. Medline AN 17955679. Demiris, G., Edison, K., & Vijaykumar, S. (2005, October). A comparison of communication models of traditional and video-mediated health care delivery. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 74(10), 851-56. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2005.03.018 Harrison, R., MacFarlane, A., Murray, E., & Wallace, P. (2006, March). Patients’ perceptions of joint teleconsultations: a qualitative evaluation. Health Expectations, 9(1), 81-90. CINAHL AN 2009200986. Apple Corporation. (2013). Mac Daily News. Retrieved from http://macdailynews.com/2013/04/08/how-many-iphones-did-apple-sell-in-fiscal-q213/