Verizon adds remote doc visits to mHealth offerings

Called "Verizon Virtual Visits," the mobile platform allows people to connect with a healthcare provider via their smartphone or tablet, thereby eliminating the need to make a face-to-face appointment or visit the emergency room. This remote viewing is especially helpful in instances where the medical complaint is not serious.

According to a press release posted on the company's website, the online connection can be made either through a secure Web portal or by using an app downloaded to a smartphone or tablet. 

After answering a series of questions, the person is seen by a clinician who diagnoses the condition and recommends an appropriate care plan. If medication is necessary, the healthcare provider also can ePrescribe the drug to the person's pharmacy of choice.

All information between the user and the healthcare provider is encrypted and stored in Verizon's HIPAA-compliant cloud.

"We are seeing a shift in how care is delivered in the U.S.," said Rich Black, vice president of Verizon's healthcare practice. "With Verizon Virtual Visits, patients and providers alike can benefit from the use of technology to provide medical care via an enterprise-class technology solution developed with the security, performance and reliability essential to healthcare delivery."