Healthspot Lets You See Your Doctor from Virtually Anywhere
It’s about time doctors got in on the video chat scene! With Facetime, Google Hangouts, Skype, iChat, etc, it’s easy to be connected to the folks you need, no matter where you are. And now, your doctor can be part of that circle.
Introducing HealthSpot, the newest way to see your doctor, without going to the office or the hospital. All you have to do is make an appointment online, and go to a HealthSpot booth. Yep, you read correctly, a booth! Not quite as simple as firing up your computer, but pretty darn convenient for those who travel a lot or simply want peace of mind no matter where they are.
Here’s how it works. You go to the kiosk, video chat with the doctor, and can even take your temperature, show them the inside of your ears, eyes, mouth – all that good stuff. After seeing the doctor, you can get an e-prescription if needed, and the visit will only cost you $60-$80, whether or not you’ve got insurance.
Every kiosk has a medical assistant that is there to assist you, and who also cleans, sanitizes, and changes equipment as needed. After your visit, your medical records are securely stored on the HealthSpot website where you can access it at anytime.
Inside every kiosk, there is a supply of the basic medical tools doctors use for urgent care visits, including a stethoscope, digital thermometer, and a few more. Of course, access to these devices are controlled by the doctor. They’ll lead you through the steps on how to use these devices to take tests. After measuring your stats, the doctor will use the info to help figure out what’s wrong, just like in a normal office visit.
HealthSpot is currently piloting a few kiosks in the Midwest and California, but are planning to launch 50 more in the early half of this year. For right now, it’s mainly equipped to handle primary care concerns (body aches, rashes, etc), but hopes to advance to further conditions in the future.
While this isn’t meant to completely replace in-person visits to the doc, it’s a great way to check whether or not your condition is serious enough to warrant a visit to the doctor, or can be cured with simple prescription. Sounds good to us!
