Virtual Visits

A new study purportedly suggests that “virtual visits” to healthcare providers for certain infections may be as effective as, and cheaper than, in-person in-office visits.  The researchers’ rough estimate of the cost difference with respect to treating a patient with a reported UTI was $74 per e-visit vs. $93 for an office visit.  Query, what are the implications for proper patient screening and care; patient savings; efficiencies; return visit frequencies; over-prescribing antibiotics; access to healthcare; and healthcare real estate needs, costs, and returns on costs per square footage?

Read more at:

“Virtual visits to doctor may be cheaper than and as effective as in-person visits”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/virtual-visits-to-doctor-may-be-cheaper-than-and-as-effective-as-in-person-visits/2013/01/18/8237c028-601e-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_story.html