Study Finds Similar Outcomes From Online, In-Person Doctor Visits

Study Finds Similar Outcomes From Online, In-Person Doctor Visits
Online physician consultations for uncomplicated conditions produce similar outcomes as in-person office visits, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Reuters reports.

Study Details
For the study, researchers compared data on physician e-visits and in-person doctors' visits for patients with sinus infections and urinary tract infections between January 2010 and May 2011. Of the more than 8,000 consultations examined in the study, more than 90% occurred in person

Key Findings
The study found that for both groups, 7% or less of patients returned to the doctor within three weeks for the same condition, suggesting that online consultations did not have higher rates of misdiagnosis or treatment failure. In addition, the researchers estimated that treating a patient with a UTI cost an average of $74 per e-visit, compared with $93 per office visit. The researchers wrote, "There are several potential advantages of e-visits, including convenience and efficiency (avoiding travel and time), and lower costs," as well as allowing patients to meet with their primary care physician instead of emergency department doctors. Read Report at iHealthbeat