The Doctor’s Not In: Checkup By Teleconference
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Rating
The Doctor’s Not In: Checkup By Teleconference
Our Review Summary
In this story we learn about a new concept in urgent care: checkups by teleconference. This technology purports to fill gaps in healthcare, providing convenient care for minor ailments. With long waits at emergency rooms, this concept is very appealing. However, this story fails to describe the evidence to support the claim that this type of care delivery is as safe and effective as traditional care.
The medical ethics expert points out several potential harms of the technology, such as mistaking a major condition for a minor one or ignoring true emergencies. The story mentions emergency room and urgent care centers as the alternatives. The story should have provided some more detail about the pros and cons of the different options. The story quotes two sources, the physician who is affiliated with the teleconferencing company and an independent medical ethicist. The story could have provided some additional perspectives, such as from a doctor who works in urgent care settings.
Most importantly, the story does not provide any evidence to support the claim that these centers provide care that is at least as safe or as good quality as regular visits. Also, the story does not attempt to quantify the benefits of the technology nor does it state where these centers are located and how common they are.
Criteria
Satisfactory
The story does mention that the co-pay of an ED visit is $100 compared to $65 for the teleconference. However, ED co-pays vary widely depending on insurance.
Not Satisfactory
The story does not attempt to quantify the benefits.
Satisfactory
The medical ethics expert points out several potential harms, such as mistaking a major condition for a minor one or ignoring true emergencies.
Not Satisfactory
The story does not provide any evidence to support the claim that these centers provide care that is at least as good quality as regular visits.
Not Applicable
Because this story does not deal with a specific disease, disease mongering is not applicable.
Satisfactory
The story quotes two sources, the physician who is affiliated with the teleconferencing company and an idependent medical ethicist. The story could have provided some additional perspectives, such as doctors who work in urgent care settings. The balance of the story would have been better if it addressed such issues as the percentage of Americans without insurance, a list of appropriate conditions that would be potentially handled in this manner, and other points of view.
Satisfactory
The story mentions emergency room and urgent care centers as the alternatives. The story should have provided some more detail about the pros and cons of the different options.
Not Satisfactory
The story does not state where these centers are located and how common they are.
Satisfactory
The story clearly states that this is new technology.
Not Applicable
Although the network turned to an independent medical ethicist for his perspective, the story still felt, for the most part, like an infomercial for a niche market area that is being introduced. Nonetheless, we can’t be sure if the story relied largely on a news release.
Total Score: 5 of 8 Satisfactory
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