"E-office" visits...WTF?!?

Okay...so, I get a letter today from my kid's health insurance provider (BCBS) telling me the usual b/s about rising costs in healthcare, how much more they're gonna charge me every year, policy changes, etc...

One of those changes are (and I quote)
"E-Office visits have a lower co-pay ($10.00 on most plans, if applicable)-so online doctor visits are not only convenient, they're also more affordable."

Again...WTF?!? Has anyone even heard of this before? I'm not as E-savvy as some of you on here -but my husband is- and I'm a lot more proficient than your standard "e-mails and pics from the grandkids" internet user, but I've NEVER heard of going to the doctor online and I'm wondering how it would even work... I mean, how do they give my kid his flu-shot or diagnose an ear infection and whatever online? And why would you go to the doctor in the first place if it weren't for a check-up or sick visit? ?

I'm confused.

I only do e-visits when I have a sinus or bronchial infection to get antibiotics. Most people do evisits for colds or the flu, not shots and I wouldnt recommend it for children because well I think a doctor should always look at them, sometimes they exagerate or do not emphasize what is wrong with them and we dont know how they feel.

Wow...didn't know that people were doing this...I'm suprised that doctors would prescribe medications without actually seeing the patient. It's long-since been established that over-prescribing antibiotics is a serious health issue with "super-bugs" developing immunity to them. And even if you're talking about getting scripts for cold symptoms...in my state they limit the amt of OTC cold meds you can buy in 1 transaction, so I wouldn't think that prescribing script-strength meds ONLINE would be inline with that policy.

And no, I agree with you, Egyptianruin...if I feel the need to pay a Dr. for their knowledge when my kid is sick, I'm gonna want a face-to-face.

That sounds crazy to me...if your kid is sick, the doc's gotta see them. They might catch a symptom you didn't and the "cold" might turn out to be more serious. And if your kid isn't sick and it's a well-visit, they still need to weigh them, measure their height, check other things. It's called a "physical" for a reason. And if it's an ongoing condition and they just need more meds, you shouldn't need a visit anyway (e-office or otherwise), just a prescription re-fill. I can kinda, maybe in certain instances see where an adult might use an e-office visit, but I would never ever consider one for my kids. What is this world coming to?! shock

Wow, never heard of it. I usually just call my doc for meds when I get a sinus infection or have my wife grab something from their med closet (works at doc office)... Makes sense though. I can see it good for minor things, or things you know what it is.

[quoteae7b885c7e="egyptianruin"]I only do e-visits when I have a sinus or bronchial infection to get antibiotics. Most people do evisits for colds or the flu, not shots and I wouldnt recommend it for children because well I think a doctor should always look at them, sometimes they exagerate or do not emphasize what is wrong with them and we dont know how they feel.[/quoteae7b885c7e]

wait, so you visit a doctor online? Never heard of that either.

have a link??

My doctor lets me tell him symptoms over the phone sometimes...

[quotef305d85e9b="givmea1032"]Wow, never heard of it. I usually just call my doc for meds when I get a sinus infection or have my wife grab something from their med closet (works at doc office)... Makes sense though. I can see it good for minor things, or [bf305d85e9b]things you know what it is[/bf305d85e9b].[/quotef305d85e9b]

I agree, there are some things I've had throughout my life, like pink-eye, I get it at LEAST once a year, and I always know it - so I would probably want an e-visit to get the drops I know I need. Also throat-related things, like strep or tonsilitis, I always know when I have it, so..yeah...e-visit ) But I would never replace that for a hands-on doctor visit when it comes to children...not that I have any, but when I do..no e-visits for them.

My doctor performed a colonoscopy on me over AIM once.

[quote8e5c109990="Wolfeman"]My doctor lets me tell him symptoms over the phone sometimes...[/quote8e5c109990]

yea, my doctor too, but then he says "see me tomorrow."

[quote9cf2607702="kidd2108"][quote9cf2607702="egyptianruin"]I only do e-visits when I have a sinus or bronchial infection to get antibiotics. Most people do evisits for colds or the flu, not shots and I wouldnt recommend it for children because well I think a doctor should always look at them, sometimes they exagerate or do not emphasize what is wrong with them and we dont know how they feel.[/quote9cf2607702]

wait, so you visit a doctor online? Never heard of that either.

have a link??[/quote9cf2607702]

My allergist has a specific site, where I tell him my symptoms what I am going through etc and they do indeed bill my doctor for it, most of the time he just tells me to come in though because Im an allergic mess.