Comments on: The Painfully Slow Move to Online Services

By: Google’s Schmidt Outlines Health Platform « Chilmark Research

Google’s Schmidt Outlines Health Platform « Chilmark Research — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:49:38 +0000

[...] An important feature that consumers want and increasingly physicians as both Aetna and Cigna have agreed to reimburse physicians for [...]

By: John

John — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:41:27 +0000

Thanks for the comment Avi and your your question as to what steps insurers and employers will take to monitor the efficacy of online consultations is a good one. To date, I have not heard of any pro-active efforts and not sure that we will anytime soon.

First, employers tend to stay pretty tight-lipped about such studies/analysis as it may cross a fine line on ethics/employee privacy as it pertains to their personal healthcare. Have seen employers make “back of the envelope” type calculations on productivity losses due to employees leaving the office for a Dr’s appt, (and they are substantial) but that is about it. As for insurers, they may divulge metrics in the future, but as you put, they are going on blind faith today.

By: Avi

Avi — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:33:17 +0000

I have come across a few studies that discuss the efficacy of online consultations. One is in the International Journal of Medical Informatics 61 (2001) pgs 229-234, entitled “EMR Telegeriatric System.” by P.M.D.S. Pallawalla and K.C. Lun. The study examined consultations done at a nursing home type facility.
What steps do you think employers and insurers will take to monitor the efficacy of their current programs? It seems to me as if many of the insurers are running these programs on blind faith.

By: ICMCC Articles » Blog Archive » The Painfully Slow Move to Online Services

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:28:14 +0000

[...] and physicians, but more importantly to these payer’s their customers – the employers.” Article John, Chilmark Research, 6 February [...]