Virtual Office Visits: A Reachable and Reimbursable Innovation - October 2007 - Family Practice Management

Virtual Office Visits: A Reachable and Reimbursable Innovation - October 2007 - Family Practice Management: "Virtual visits satisfy patients' thirst for timely access to care and allow them to communicate with their doctor when it's convenient for them, whether from home or work, regardless of the time of day. With a virtual visit, patients don't have to wait on hold to schedule an appointment, they don't have to miss work and they don't have to waste time in a waiting room. This type of information exchange allows them to describe their problem and formulate their questions without feeling rushed, and because they have their physician's response in writing, they can reread the information as often as they like or need to understand the content. Virtual visits are generally paid for out-of-pocket by patients, although some insurers are beginning to reimburse for the service because they believe it is cost effective and increases patient satisfaction."