NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee residents can now visit a doctor by telephone for relief from minor ailments.
A service called Apogee Doctor on Call charges $50 per contact for physician consultations. Arizona-based Apogee Physicians said Tennessee is the pilot state for its remote program, partly because the company already provides staffing at a dozen hospitals around the state.
The queries are answered around the clock, seven days a week. Doctors cannot prescribe narcotics, but can message pharmacies for routine prescriptions, such as antibiotics.
Some medical professionals have concerns about the idea.
Dr. Mohamad Sidani, a professor with Meharry Medical College, said body language is very important in diagnosing an illness and he want to see patients face to face.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
