Kaiser Permanente offers free video physician visits

Kaiser Permanente is betting on mobile health and telehealth to reduce unnecessary and costly visits to urgent care centers and hospitals.

The company recently implemented a new program, HouseCalls, that provides free, 20-minute physican appointments to patients in the areas of Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

“Our ultimate goal is to 100 percent satisfy every patient we come into contact with. They love the convenience of not having to leave their house in the middle of the night or with a painful condition that might make it difficult to leave their home,” said Jody Crane, MD, MBA, associate medical director at the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in an interview with the Washington Post. “We will ultimately reduce our insurance premiums and we’ll be able to attract more patients because we’re providing this quality service at a price that can’t be beat.”

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