Online Care Anywhere Health Chat Room

By Chatrooms.NET - 2009-12-03

In the midst of a health care reform battle, one insurance company is trying to come up with new and cheaper ways to provide health care.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has launched a new tool for it's employees called Online Care Anywhere and the company showed us a live demonstration of how a patient consultation would work.

Patients can log onto Online Care Anywhere and be connected with a Fairview physician who can either chat via a chat room, or on a webcam or on the phone.

Doctors can prescribe medications, suggest over-the-counter remedies and even email patients more information about your illness.

"This is a great fit for Fairview, because it builds on our work to develop a more effective and efficient health care delivery system that achieves better outcomes at lower costs," said Dave Moen, M.D., system medical director of care model innovation at Fairview Health Services. "Online technology brings tremendous potential to improve care and the patient experience."

"I think not only is it the way of the future but I think as we start thinking about a population that is living longer. We're trying to stay healthier. There's much more chronic disease. We can bring care to you instead of you stopping your life to go for care," said MaryAnne Stump of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Blue Cross Blue Shield launched the program Monday to it's 10,000 employees.

Blue Cross employees and family members can access Online Care Anywhere by logging onto a computer or using the phone at home or work. To facilitate workplace use of online care, Blue Cross has created three secured 'online care rooms' at its Eagan and Virginia, Minn. campuses, each equipped with a computer, webcam, biometric machines to record weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and other basic diagnostic tools. Fairview providers include specialists, from family practitioners to pediatricians and emergency medicine physicians, who will be scheduled and available for consult and care.

Online Care Anywhere is one example of the kind of new thinking we need to change the health care equation to deliver more patient-centered, cost effective care

The company hopes to expand it to their subscribers and say they may someday expand the service to their non-subscribers.

Link To "Online Care Anywhere Health Chat Room"