Net Doctors, prescriptions over net?
Quote:
>> There has been much ballyhoo concerning "medicine over the net"
>>on some news programs. It is said that one can have a consult and
>>recieve prescriptions for medications as a result of this consult.
>>Can someone point me to information concerning this? What is this
>>all about? It is also said that insurance will pay for these
>>consults? To what extent is this true? Thanks for any help
It may be that you heard some information regarding "long distance"
consulting being done in some of the more remote/rural areas of the US.
In some areas the only health care facility is a community hospital
(lacking the specalized units and practitioners of larger hospitals). It is my
understanding that in some of these cases, the practitioners from these
hospitals will consult with colleagues in larger cities/hospitals.
Sometimes it may be that the consult orders tests, interpets tests or
x-ray, etc then suggests/orders medications or treatments.
Thus, the patient has been treated "over the net" as it were.
I think you need to understand though, that key to this method is that
it is being conducted BY practitioners WITH practitioners.
Personally, I do not know of any practitioner who is "practicing
medicine" over the net which includes insurance payments and written
prescriptions DIRECTLY with patients.
If this is not what you've heard about, but does indeed involve direct
patient care, please let me know what you find out. I would be most interested
in knowing more.
---- PJ
