Remember the days of the family doctor making a house call? Neither do I. My experience with doctors has been making an appointment, sometimes weeks in advance. Taking off work at the most inopportune time. Fighting traffic to drive across town. Looking for a parking place. Still looking for a parking place… Wandering around a professional building until finding the right office. Writing my name on a clipboard in front of a closed reception window. Waiting sometimes hours in the appropriately-named waiting room. Being called finally only to wait some more in an exam room. And Ta Da! The doctor walks in the room. Mission accomplished.
Now, thanks to the Humana health plans provided by UniqueHR to our customers, the house call is back—only better! Doctor on Demand is the Telemedicine option included with Humana’s medical plans. Instead of sending the fastest runner to “fetch the doctor quick”, within minutes, members can video connect via smartphone, tablet or computer to a U.S. board-certified doctor anytime (even during the holidays), anywhere (from the comfort of your home or Grandma’s house). This service is available when you need it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members can share notes from the telemedicine visit with their primary care doctor. If medically necessary, the Doctor on Demand can send a prescription to a preferred pharmacy.
While not intended for emergency situations (that’s what 911 is for), Telemedicine is ideal for colds, sore throat, and flu symptoms, upper respiratory infections, allergies and sinus infections, ear and eye problems, or skin conditions–all those things you tend to catch over the holdiays. Chest pain, abdominal pain, or shortness of breath should be treated as an emergency.
Medicine is coming full circle, back to the convenience of the patient, when the patient needs the doctor most. It’s been updated for the demands of our mobile society, whether you’re at home, work, or at Grandma’s house for the holidays. Doctor on Demand is a click away. Go to www.doctorondemand.com or download the Doctor on Demand app. Rest assured this winter, you can “fetch the doctor quick”. Have a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving.
