Health and wellbeing are major priorities today, and WebMD has been helping people live healthier for 20 years.information, check symptoms, find details about drugs, and research health-related topics.
A wide range of websites has arisen to cater to this desire on the part of individuals to learn more about their health, from personal blogs to encyclopedic sites. Of all the sites, however, WebMD has emerged as a leading publisher of health care and general well-being information. Following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, there has been an increasing interest in telemedicine as an alternative to expensive doctor’s visits. WebMD is now poised to explore telemedicine as a possible addition to their already invaluable network of online information.
The History and Importance of WebMD
Founded in 1996, WebMD has become the leading publisher of health information services in the US, with more than 200 million unique visitors each month. The site publishes a wide range of health-related topics, from information about medications, diseases, and conditions, growth and development, to physician blogs and even a place to store personal medical information.
WebMD has become an important part of the health and well-being culture of today. Now more than ever, people want to have control over their bodies, and the want to make informed choices about their own healthcare and lifestyles. By offer such broad access to information and practical advice regarding conditions, diseases, medical procedures and medications, WebMD has given the average person the tools they need to appreciate their own personal health status. It has also improved communication between patients and doctors, as many patients now have access to the same information their doctors do and can converse about their health status with a clearer understanding of medical terminology and procedures.
On the downside, this access to knowledge has resulted in an increase in self-diagnosis and even self-treatment by many people. While WebMD provides the facts and the information about a vast array of medical diagnoses, it is not meant to be used to diagnose one’s self. Even when your symptoms may appear to match those listed for a specific disease, it is vital to see a doctor, who can run the appropriate tests and concretely determine if you, in fact, have a particular illness.
The dangers of self-diagnosis and self-treatment may substantially decrease, though, if WebMD brings telemedicine services to their many users. While going to the doctor may not be possible for some users, the ability to consult with a physician about underlying health issues and symptoms will be ideal.
What is Telemedicine?
Modern technology has enabled doctors to connect with their patients in a direct and immediate way, whether those patients are down the street or on the other side of the world. This kind of contact, known as telemedicine, involves a wide variety of technologies and types of remote healthcare, from email and two-way video to patient portals and continuing education modules.
Telemedicine has been around for more than 50 years. NASA was the first to utilizes the technology to any great extent, with telemetry systems connecting them to the astronauts and allowing them to monitor their health while in space. By the 1980s, the technology had been refined both in size and in accuracy and was being applied to more Earth-bound medical situations, such as emergency response and disaster relief. The ability to manage patient care long-distance is an invaluable one, giving people in remote locations the ability to get quality medical advice and basic care.
WebMD and the Telemedicine Trend
WebMD has expressed an interest in entering the telemedicine space and, with the prices beginning to dip to a reasonable level, it may be happening sooner rather than later. David Schlanger, CEO of the New York-based company, as indicated that the company will likely explore telehealth options through a partnership with an existing telemedicine firm, or perhaps by acquiring a small telehealth firm outright.
WebMD will not be a complete newcomer to the world of telehealth if this occurs. Its presence on the virtual wellness world is well established, primarily through a partnership with Walgreens. The partnership, which consists of a wellness coaching program accessible online or via the app, could instead become a competition if WebMD does go ahead and venture into the telehealth world on its own. A full-scale telemedicine operation would put WebMD into direct competition with many of the large pharmacy chains that also offer telemedicine services, including Walgreens.
The market for “on demand” healthcare services is growing, with telehealth companies benefiting from this surge of interest. Primary care physicians like the model for healthcare that telemedicine presents. They have the opportunity to work more flexible hours and to work from home while still providing their patients the advice and care they need when they need it. Add to that, the pay rates for telehealth practices are comparable to those of standard brick-and-mortar practices, without the added expenses.
Conclusion
Are there advantages to a WebMD telemedicine venture? Absolutely. Incorporating telemedicine into their already extensive healthcare knowledge base and services would help WebMD provide even greater access to valuable medical information. The ability to talk directly to a doctor, to ask questions and describe symptoms first-hand, will eliminate, or at least substantially decrease, the rates of self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
Bringing patient and doctor together in such an immediate way will also help to drastically improve health care. Reducing the costs of unnecessary office visits by providing direct access to doctors via telehealth services will have a positive effect on patient pocketbooks and on how the health insurance industry handles claims. Reducing the rate of insurance claims for unnecessary emergency room visits alone could cut costs significantly.
Convenience for patients and doctors is another plus. Not only will patients and physicians have access to am incredible amount of medical knowledge, books and papers and blog posts, but they will have the ability to access help when they need it, not several weeks in the future. It is also especially useful for patients whose condition or necessary medications may cause some degree of embarrassment. Patients who require medication to treat erectile dysfunction or other issues with their sexual health will find telehealth services to be an invaluable way to access information and get questions answered discreetly.
As more and more websites emerge every day, all geared toward getting you healthier and happier, WebMD will continue to lead the way in quality health and wellbeing information and services. With the potential addition of telemedicine services, WebMD would step into a new frontier, providing actual healthcare services, including physician consultation. Though now particular partnership or acquisition is on the horizon as of yet, WebMD remains poised on this new frontier, able and willing to explore.
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