Doctor On Demand, Allergy & Asthma Network Team Up To Make Treating Asthma and Allergies Easier for Millions
San Francisco, CA (April 20, 2016) – Today Doctor On Demand, the leading U.S. video medicine provider, announced a new partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network to improve allergy and asthma care for its members. Doctor On Demand will provide immediate access to board-certified physicians via video visits to the Network’s more than 2 million members as well as access to unique services specially designed for people with asthma or allergies. For example, Doctor On Demand will provide Allergy Home Inspections to help patients identify and remove allergens and asthma triggers from their homes.
“Doctor On Demand’s video visits provide the physician a direct window into the patient’s home to identify important triggers, and up until now, hidden causes of allergies,” said Dr. Ian Tong, Chief Medical Officer at Doctor On Demand. “By partnering with the Network, Doctor On Demand is making it easier for people with asthma or allergies to get instant access to health care from the comfort of home.”
Despite advancements in prevention and treatment, asthma kills 10 people every day in the U.S., and cases of life-threatening food allergies have increased dramatically. More than seven percent of Americans have asthma, with 24 million people reporting symptoms in 2014. This adds up to 14.2 million missed work days and 13.8 million missed school days per year. For companies, this means $56 billion in health care costs and lost productivity. At the same time, nearly 75 percent of adults experience seasonal allergies, making more than 16 million allergy-related visits to their doctor each year. Many of these visits are preventable with ongoing care and communication with a physician.
Allergy & Asthma Network is spearheading the effort to end needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through its outreach, education, advocacy and research. As an innovator in encouraging patients and families to participate in and take greater responsibility for their own care, the Network specializes in making accurate medical information relevant and understandable to all.
“Telemedicine is playing an increasingly important role in asthma education and respiratory care,” says Tonya Winders, President and CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. “It is a convenient and cost-effective way for patients to receive valuable preventive care while meeting with doctors on their terms. Our partnership with Doctor On Demand allows us to expand access to asthma and allergy care, including those in underserved and rural communities."
Doctor On Demand will be working with Allergy & Asthma Network to develop a series of unique services for people with asthma and allergies that combine the Network’s expertise with Doctor On Demand’s technology and physician network. The first of these is the Allergy Home Inspection, a video tour of a patient’s home or daily environment to identify allergens or asthma triggers.
Through this partnership, starting in May, the first 1,000 Network members to sign up will receive $10 off their first Doctor On Demand video visit. In addition, all of Doctor On Demand’s physicians are now members of Allergy & Asthma Network.
Doctor On Demand recently signed its 400th major corporate customer, making the service available to more than 45 million Americans through their employer or health plan.The service is also available for anyone to use via their smartphone, laptop, or tablet for $40 per physician visit or Allergy Home Inspection.