Although the world is increasingly becoming more 24/7, making an appointment with a doctor is so last century. Want a checkup the same day? Good luck. Want to swing by in the middle of a weekend? Don’t hold your breath. And, if you live in the suburbs and must see a specialist near an urban hospital, get ready to take on enough traffic to make you sick. However, there may be a cure for these inconveniences. Aventura-based AmeriGroup Holdings recently launched MDWebLive.com, which offers webcam appointments with physicians on a flexible schedule that includes nights and weekends. There are obvious limitations to what a doctor can offer without a physical examination, but simple diagnoses that require just a look over, a chat and a prescription can work online. The company’s Web site lists dozens of conditions its doctors can treat, including cold, flu, headache, allergies and heart problems. It also treats children who are at least 2 years old. Doctors can’t prescribe controlled substances through MDWebLive. Dr. Stephen Q. Parker, president of AmeriGroup’s medical association, said any patient with a serious condition or in need of a more thorough exam will be referred to the nearest medical facility. Visits are recorded for playback by either doctor or patient, and the medical records are stored with MDWebLive. The company set up an electronic prescription service to send orders to the patients’ designated pharmacy. All of that convenience isn’t free. Physicians must pick up part of the company’s medical malpractice insurance premium, but the company provides its software at no cost. Patients must pay a $99 annual membership fee, which includes a webcam, and $40 per consultation.
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