Here are eight things to know:
1. Pager’s goal is to streamline medical care through cutting out waiting rooms, receptionists and visits to physicians’ offices.
2. Opponents for this type of care claim it could disrupt the already complicated, fragmented healthcare system.
3. Nine out of 10 general practitioners reported they do not typically make house calls.
4. Pager is presently available only in New York City. It will expand to San Francisco in a few weeks.
5. The app is not covered by insurance and customers must pay a $50 fee for their first visit and $200 for subsequent visits from one of the company’s 40 health practitioners.
6. Some medical professionals agree the app may be useful for one-time visits, but it is not sufficient for the treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s. Chronic conditions need consistent and careful treatment over many years, and a physician sought over an app may not be aware of a patient’s history.
7. Others have voiced concerns about physicians’ ability to prescribe appropriate medications when patients are paying $100 or more for their services. The visits become a transaction with patients expecting results.
8. The app is still in its beginning phases and shows signs of converging with traditional medicine.
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At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.