Pros and Cons of Online Doctors

With services ranging from shopping to education taking place online, it's no surprise that medical care is also moving into cyberspace. Patients can not only consult with a physician, but also obtain and fill prescriptions without ever leaving the house. Before you ditch the doctor's office for an online physician, weigh the pros and cons of online doctors to see if this type of care is right for you.

Affordability

• Online doctors offer an affordable alternative to traditional doctor's visits, particularly for the uninsured. According to "The New York Times," some online physician services cost less than $50 per visit. This low cost helps to improve access to medical care for a wider percentage of the population, who might otherwise avoid visiting the doctor due to high costs. Online doctors visits also decrease unnecessary trips to the emergency room, which helps to keep health costs low for everyone.

  For doctors, online visits with patients help to reduce costs related to office space, receptionists, energy bills and even furnishings. These visits also serve as a way to make extra money, particularly for retired individuals or those with gaps in the daily patient schedule.

Convenience

• Compared to traditional visits to the doctors office, online medical care offers a high level of convenience for patients. Rather than making an appointment, patients can access care at any time of day or night. There's no need to drive to another location or waste time in a waiting room. Online doctors also allow patients to avoid leaving the home while ill.

Easy Collaboration

• Online medical care allows patients to access the very best specialists in a given field. This makes it easy to get a second opinion, or to receive specialized care for complex medical issues. It also allows doctors to take advantage of other experts to provide patients with the best possible care.

Lack of Consistency

• Some online medical services lack consistency for patients in terms of which doctors they see. A patient who logs into a large system may be assigned to the next available doctor rather than one who knows his medical history. Some of these services report back to the patient's primary care provider, while others do not.

Not Appropriate for all Conditions

• Online doctors visits are simply not appropriate for emergencies, or even potential emergencies like suspicious aches and pains. Even for minor illnesses, online consultations may make it more difficult for doctors to properly diagnose a patient because it takes away the ability to physically examine an individual. Some patients and doctors believe that there's simply no substitute for face-to-face contact to ensure the best possible diagnosis.