The Doctor Is Just A Click Away

DISCLOSURE:  This post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network.  However, all opinions are 100% my own.

The internet is an amazing place. It gives me an outlet to be creative and earn a living, it lets me connect with friends and family near and far, and it lets me do a lot of other things from the comfort of my home. One thing I’ve recently discovered I can do online is visit the doctor! No more scheduling appointments, driving to the office or sitting in waiting rooms.

I never realized how badly this would come in handy until Jacob came home from a day at camp and Vacation Bible School itching like crazy. He had what I thought could be Chicken Pox and I might have freaked out because I couldn’t handle one more thing on my just-got-back-from-vacation-help-I-am-drowning-in-work-and-laundry-and-to-dos plate. While I was googling pictures of chicken pox Lucas fell asleep and I was stuck with one itchy, miserable child. He had to see the doctor so I could figure out if he did have Chicken Pox or if it was another rash or just bug bites which would determine what I could do to help him and if the boys had to stay home tomorrow or if they could go to school, camp and VBS.

I couldn’t go anywhere since Lucas was sleeping and our doctor’s office was closed so I tried out Amwell which is the nation’s largest telehealth company, connecting users with board-certified, licensed doctors for immediate and live, online visits—day or night, on either mobile or desktop.  Some general conditions their doctors encounter include: minor illnesses and injuries, general health and wellness concerns, prescription refills, and chronic condition management.  They employ primary care and specialist physicians, as well as licensed behavioral therapists and registered dietitians.

I love that Amwell doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At 10pm I talked to a doctor via a video chat within 5 minutes of logging into the site. The nice physician looked at my son’s bumps, asked me some questions and then assured me that my son’s itchy bumps were just the result of some overeager mosquitos and not Chicken Pox.

I thought online doctors would be expensive but the cost is actually not too bad. For about $40 I had a 10 minute appointment with a physician. I thought about it and that’s usually how long my son’s physician is actually in the exam room with us but I pay double that to spend most of my time in the pediatrician’s office just waiting.

Want to try Amwell yourself? I have a FREE CODE for you! Use the code: ROLEMOMMY for a free visit to the Doctor of your choice. Go to Amwell.com and choose the type of visit you are looking for and select a provider.  Depending on the issue at hand, the doctor can diagnose, suggest follow up, and prescribe, when appropriate. Amwell takes privacy very seriously and visits with the doctors are secure and they are HIPAA compliant. Amwell is accepted by many major insurers, with more added every day. You can enter your health insurance information for a lower cost visit. Amwell doctor visits are now available in 46 states.

Hope this service helps all you busy parents! :)