Filed under: Internet, Web services, web 2.0
Doctor 2.0
Want to make an appointment to see the doctor? Check out his Google Calendar for availability and shoot Parkinson a text message or e-mail. He'll text you back and then make a house call with as little as an hour's notice. He doesn't have an office. Instead he has e-mail, instant messenger, and a cellphone. And Parkinson uses Life Record to keep his medical records online.
Parkinson is based in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, where he is targeting young creative professionals, many of whom are freelancers. That means they don't have full time jobs with health benefits. So he charges $500 a year for an initial checkup and up to 2 house calls. If you need more, you can pay per visit. If you need a specialist, he'll direct you to one. Since Parkinson isn't part of a medical network, he's contacted thousands of NY area doctors to discover specialists with the lowest prices for a variety of procedures.
What do you think? House calls are great and all, but would you be willing to see a doctor that doesn't even have an office?
[via Wired]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lisa Hoover said 9:27PM on 10-03-2007
I'd be thrilled if there was something like this in my area. $500 for an initial consult and 2 home visits is a drop in the bucket compared to how freelancers get shafted by big name insurance companies. Once I verified the guy's credentials, he'd be my doctor for life.
On the other hand, it's never idea to go without insurance. All it takes is a ruptured appendix to break the bank. Ugh.
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Joshua Works said 10:38PM on 10-03-2007
"House calls are great and all, but would you be willing to see a doctor that doesn't even have an office?"
What, you mean sitting in a waiting room for 30 minutes longer than you were supposed to with a bunch of other sick, sniffling folks, where the only distraction comes in the form of gnarled copies of Highlights magazine? If that spells legitimacy, count me out.
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iptydafu said 10:49AM on 10-04-2007
He's a general practicioner--what's he need with an office? All he needs is a wildly preoccupied manner and a script pad.
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rocketboy said 3:48PM on 10-04-2007
Oh noes! The market creating better health care solutions?!?! Don't tell Hillary!
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cvbdvdfg said 5:14AM on 10-07-2007
Hmm, I know nothing about the US health care system (if it exists), but is $500 not insanely expensive? Especially since that guy is not a specialist, and so all he can do is give a bit of advice and write a few prescriptions?
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