The Uber of healthcare
Long wait times are spurring doctor-on-demand technology
With long wait times to see a doctor and unnecessary emergency room visits, physicians and entrepreneurs are starting to bring back the house call. Thompson Aderinkomi founded a company called Retrace Health, which allows patients to request a doctor and he or she will make a house call immediately for a flat fee of $175. While that price seems steep compared to a typical co-pay, it beats the cost of an emergency room visit. The company also offers video consultations for a fee of $50.
According to the article:
- Patients collectively spend 1.2 billion hours in waiting rooms each year
- 71% of emergency room visits could have been handled by primary care
- Unnecessary emergency room visits rack up $38 billion in spending
Retrace Health is the latest innovation to make doctor visits faster and more convenient. CVS, Walgreens and Walmart are successfully running clinics staffed with physicians and nurse practitioners to treat walk-ins because, when you don’t feel well, the last thing you want to do is sit in a crowded waiting room. The point here isn’t to blame hospitals or physician practices for not seeing patients quickly enough, but to acknowledge that healthcare delivery is changing and that your organization has the opportunity to get ahead of the curve.
By partnering with a local pharmacy or a company like Retrace Health, your healthcare organization can keep emergency rooms clear for patients with real emergencies, and treat coughs and colds quickly and efficiently off-site. New clinics shouldn’t be seen as competitors, but as a way to streamline and manage your community’s health.