New app offers mobile telehealth
A new option for telehealth has the potential to change access to healthcare significantly.
American Well, the nation's largest telehealth service, unveiled its new app that allows consumers to connect with a board-certified, licensed, credentialed physician right on their tablet or smartphone via any web browser.
The company’s technology actively manages physician availability, letting consumers either choose a specific doctor or simply connect to the next available one, according to a press release. Patients can also review doctors’ professional profiles and see how other patients rate them. Consumers also can use their computer webcam to connect online with a doctor.
Clinical services on American Well are provided by the Online Care Group, a large physician-owned primary and urgent care group devoted to video telehealth. American Well can be used to see a doctor for urgent care issues such as cold and flu, sinusitis, urinary tract infection and pink eye. Doctors accessed via American Well are available now for live video consults 24 x 7 x 365 in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Doctor visits via American Well cost $49, and can be paid via credit, debit or health savings account cards.
The American Well mobile app is available at the Apple App Store or Google Play store.
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.