TelaDoc Exemplifies Principles of Patient-Centered Medical Home
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“TelaDoc recognizes the value of re-energizing the U.S. healthcare system to deliver patient-centered services where primary care physicians are at the fulcrum of quality care,” says Michael Gorton, chief executive officer of TelaDoc, expressing confidence in the medical home to drive improved outcomes and savings to patients, employer, and health plans. “Our platform puts physicians in charge of coordinating care delivery and advances the medical home model with more sustained, personalized, and better synchronized relationships between patients and their physicians. By providing direct access via telephone 24/7/365, TelaDoc promotes cost-efficient access to care and addresses a critical shortage of clinical capacity.”
TelaDoc relies upon the simplicity of a telephone to provide consumers with affordable, convenient medical care that can be provided at home, work, or on the road. The tenets of a medical home model are infused into each patient encounter, including an electronic health record (EHR) that supports care coordination and record portability, and which is provided free of charge to both physicians and patients. TelaDoc is a prime example of health information technology facilitating evidence-based integrated care and quality improvement.
“This coordinated approach meets consumer need for quick access to their doctor or physician colleague when the primary care physician is unavailable, allowing for faster resolution of routine medical issues and minimizing the time and expenses associated with visits to urgent care facilities, hospital emergency rooms, and physician offices,” continues Gorton. “When appropriate, physicians prescribe medication refills and only for short-term use of non-controlled substances.”
He emphasizes the role of TelaDoc in being accountable for improved clinical outcomes, an enhanced patient experience, and appropriate use of healthcare services.
“We are committed to meeting patients’ individual needs, with services tailored to engage all patients as partners in their care to improve overall health status,” says Gorton. “We were founded as a member-centric model to support traditional healthcare delivery and have evolved into a pillar that strengthens the medical home, factors which have contributed to our exceptionally high patient satisfaction rates.”
About TelaDoc
TelaDoc Medical Services is a Texas corporation founded in 2002. The company employs technology to improve the traditional cross coverage standard of care, whereby coverage is assigned by the primary care physician or patient. With TelaDoc, covering physicians have the patient’s medical record as well as the means to update it electronically. Most importantly, the physician is now paid for the encounter. While most visits occur in less than 30 minutes from the time of request, patients now have a guaranteed encounter in under three hours, with a flat rate fee per visit and 24/7 access to quality medical care. Contact: 800.835.2362 or www.TelaDoc.com
SOURCE: TelaDoc Medical Services
Copyright Business Wire 2008
