Health 2.0 e-Consultations

Staff Reporters

Did you ever wish that you could talk to a doctor without schlepping all the way to a crowded medical office where you’ll probably pick up even more germs? Well, if you live in Hawaii, you may be in luck. 

Computerworld Speaks to the Healthcare Industry

According to Computerworld, January 15, 2009, the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) just launched a new program where patients can connect with doctors over a standard Internet connection or telephone. The service is available 24 hours a day to anyone in the state.

Several Medical Specialties Available

Customers of the insurer pay $10 and non-HMSA members pay $45 per session. About 140 local doctors, including family physicians, cardiologists, ophthalmologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists and surgeons, have signed up to be available for questions.

Is Hawaii the Vanguard?

“HMSA’s Online Care is making Hawaii’s health care system more accessible to patients by overcoming the constraints of time, distance, mobility or lack of insurance,” so says Michael Gold, HMSA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Assessment

HMSA, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, also notes that this is the first health plan in the US to provide state residents with online service. Now, we ask, is it coincidental that Hawaii is President-elect Barack Obama’s home state?

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. For example, what are the liability issues of this new health 2.0 dialog?

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Health Law & Policy, Information Technology, Professional Liability, Research & Development, Risk Management | Tagged: EHRs, EMRs, health 2.0, online medical consultationsHMSA |