NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee residents can now visit a doctor online or by telephone for relief from minor ailments.
A service called Teladoc began service Monday, charging $50 per contact for physician consultations. The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/YpWTn1 ) reported Arizona-based Apogee Physicians said Tennessee is the pilot state for its remote program, partly because the company already provides staffing at a dozen hospitals around the state.
The queries are answered around the clock, seven days a week. Doctors cannot prescribe narcotics, but can message pharmacies for routine prescriptions, such as antibiotics.
Some medical professionals have concerns about the idea.
Dr. Mohamad Sidani, a professor with Meharry Medical College, said body language is very important in diagnosing an illness and he want to see patients face to face.
Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com
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