Technology is booming in the health care field, and physicians are just now starting to explore the possibilities, and benefits, of e-visits with patients.

A pilot program launched in January within Mercy Health includes six physicians across two practices (Mercy Health Internists of Fairfield and Mercy Health Wyoming Primary Care). The physicians are offering their patients electronic visits, said Nanette Bentley, network spokeswoman.

About 50 patients have taken advantage of the offer so far, Bentley said.

Universally, the patients love the electronic visits, Bentley said.

A patient starts an e-visit by first completing an online survey specific to certain conditions, such as sore throat or headache. The survey answers are sent to the provider who responds within 24 hours with the appropriate next steps, including diagnosis and prescription, according to Mercy Health.

Bentley said the network plans to introduce electronic visits to more physician practices this year, but no firm numbers are available yet.

Benefits to patients include being able to stay at home or work and not disrupt the day with a physician office visit, Bentley said. Benefits to physicians include the ability to treat more patients in day at their convenience.

Nicole Hatten of Hamilton said she recently learned about the concept of e-visits from her insurance company. She said technology has certainly influenced the way patients can get care.

You can do it through the computer, thats crazy, Hatten said. I would rather go see my doctor in person.

Dr. Walter Reiling, chief medical informatics officer for Premier Health, said as technology and health care continue to converge so will the ability to interact with physicians in a flexible manner.

Original post:

More health care providers moving to e-visits