Raleigh medical group launches ‘telemedicine’ site
A medical practice in Raleigh is joining the growing trend of what’s called “telemedicine” by launching its own service that allows patients to see a physician just about anywhere there’s an Internet connection.
Wake Emergency Physicians P.A. is the first independent medical group in the state to launch such a service – called RelyMD.
It offers virtual doctors’ visits for North Carolina residents ages 6 months and up 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We can see (patients) in the comfort of their own home – at a significantly reduced cost – compared to other health care facilities like urgent care facilities or emergency departments,” said RelyMD’s co-founder, Dr. Bobby Park.
The main draw for patients, Park believes, is savings and convenience.
Going by what can be seen through an online camera and asking targeted questions, Park and other physicians can determine if a patient might be better served by an in-person office visit.
Park says the field is so new, however, that insurance companies don’t typically cover the costs, which are about $50 per session, which are paid using major credit and debit cards.
A recent decision from the North Carolina Medical Board that allows prescriptions through telemedicine visits has also helped the service grow, Park said.
Not all medical problems can be treated using RelyMD, according to its website. Those include emergency medical conditions, such as chest pain, abdominal pain, uncontrolled bleeding and shortness of breath.