Patient telehealth via app? 6 key notes

A new app now allows patients to make an appointment for telemedicine with their physicians for face-to-face video appointments.

The TouchCare app allows patients to schedule telehealth conferences with physicians over Skype or FaceTime calls. Here are six things to know:

1. The conversations are secured between the physicians and patients using smartphones or tablets, and are HIPAA compliant.

2. They are designed for solo medical practices to large hospital-employed physicians.

3. The app is downloadable from the app store.

4. Video appointments could be used for follow-up visits, test results, medication refills or after-hours care.

5. Physicians can also use the app for physician-to-physician communication.

6. Physicians can charge for remote consultations with the app, unlike with traditional phone calls, as insurance companies establish policies for mobile health.

The TouchCare app was officially launched in March 2014 and now physicians in North Carolina and New York are using it. The app is a start-up founded by Damian Gilbert.

"Technology and the way we use it to enhance our lives is changing so rapidly — yet it has not made healthcare more accessible for patients. If anything, it is harder to connect with your own doctor than in years past," said Mr. Gilbert. "While services in the market offer connection to an unknown physician for a fee, we designed TouchCare to allow users to connect to their own health providers for scheduled video calls, and to do so in an easy way."

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