We’ve all been there. Too sick to get out of bed. Too busy to make it to the doctor’s office before it closes. Long ago, doctor house calls were commonplace, but as the healthcare industry evolved, this service was essentially abandoned in favor of more cost effective, centralized delivery methods. However, one promising startup is looking to revive the practice with a tech twist akin to Uber’s ride for hire system, the Heal app.
The Heal App
Ever since its launch in February of this year, the Heal app continues to expand its services to more and more cities. The brain child of Dr. Renee Dua and her husband Nick Desai, who struggled to manage their busy work schedules and still find time to keep up with the healthcare needs of their young child. That’s when it occurred to them to develop a system where the doctor comes to you instead of the other way around. The pair is banking on the hope that they aren’t the only dual income couple in the world with hectic work schedules.
Aside from the convenience it provides for those in the fast lane, the Heal app offers an easier way for those who might be too sick to make it to their primary care doctor or urgent care clinic to get medical attention. By sending the doctor to the home of the patient, they are more likely to receive treatment before their condition worsens, which will certainly help reduce the strain on our already overburdened healthcare system. This benefit could even wind up trickling down through insurance premiums to save everyone a little dough.
Electronic Medical Records
One of the coolest features of the app is its ability to consolidate your medical records into an easily accessible interface using their state-of-the-art Electronic Medical Record system (EMR). This not only allows the patient a convenient way to review their medical information, but facilitates coordinated care among multiple physicians or when transitioning to a new doctor. Speaking of which, the Heal app can also help users find a new primary care physician if they haven’t been to see the doctor in a while or have recently moved to a new area.
Pricing and Availability
The Heal app can be downloaded for free for both iOS or Android devices from their respective app stores. Each house call will run you $99 no matter how long the doctor is there. With insurance copays on the rise, this may not be much higher than what you already have to pay to see your doctor the old fashioned way. However, it seems more likely that people who will gravitate toward this app will probably be prepared and willing to pay a small premium for the add convenience, particularly if they are experiencing the time bottlenecks that inspired the app.
