Tele Health

TK hasn't been feeling well over the last several days. Her throat has been hurting which means she's barely eating and she's lethargic. Today I called her doctor to make an appointment but I couldn't get in before they closed at 4. They offered me an appointment tomorrow (Saturday) or this evening at a Tele Health Clinic. That didn't sound great but I wanted her to get in to see someone.

Tele Health Clinics are set up in random places and open after hours. You call them and let them know the problem and set up an appointment almost immediately. Since they are in a lot of small places they are close. One was 5 minutes away from us, and closer than the hospital. It didn't look attractive. It appeared to be the break room of a small company that is known for it's participation in the community. It reminded me of something you would see in a poor country who managed to get some supplies. I was introduced to two assistants who told me how this worked. They would take our information, do the basic check up type of stuff, take some pictures, then email the pics to the doctor who is on call. The doctor takes a look, calls back and does a phone conference with all of us and we have a diagnosis.

Everything went well until the laptop did not want to work. So the conference was off but I did speak with her on a cell phone. She confirmed the strep diagnosis that the assistants gave us. She'd sent the order for the prescription in to our pharmacy and gave the normal doctor's advice. Fluids, meds, rest AND popsicles, lol. TK loves the last part. I let her pick out the type of popsicles she wanted.

The staff was efficient and very nice. I love the concept but as all good things do, they may not be around after the end of the year because it's paid for by a grant. People don't know about these places and are not showing up. Too bad, I really like it. It's convenient, they even wrote the letter that the school will need to know that she has been treated without my asking.

Where will technology and medicine take us next? Perhaps Skyping with your physician or nurse for a diagnosis?