Thanks to widespread digitization, the medical industry has transformed dramatically. But despite the digital transformation of the industry after industry, most consumers have long preferred seeing their doctors in person. 

What a difference a global pandemic makes. 

When the coronavirus struck, the use of telemedicine exploded, and with it, many other digitized medical solutions. As with much of our “new normal”, the consumer’s newfound telehealth habit won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the demand for telemedicine alone is expected to rise by 38% over the next five years as more and more patients become eager to take advantage of the convenience of digital medical services. 

So let’s take a look at some of the medical care apps helping doctors and patients to connect in a digital space. 

5 Digital Apps Transforming Outpatient Medical Care 

• Doctor On Demand

Doctor On Demand is a telemedicine service based in the United States that offers 24/7 care on-demand and by appointment for various physical and mental issues. Users can get a brief video consultation with a licensed physician for every day, preventative, and urgent care. 

Where Can Patients Use Doctor On Demand?

The platform has doctors located across the US. While Doctor On Demand can provide telemedicine to United States citizens who are traveling abroad, they cannot prescribe medication outside of the US.

What Languages Are Available?

Doctor On Demand’s services is available in over 30 different languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Farsi, and Arabic. 

Doctor On Demand: Costs & Health Insurance

The app is free to download with no subscription fees.
Doctor On Demand accepts many major health insurance companies, which allows millions of patients in the United States to use their services at lower rates.
Uninsured patients simply pay a flat rate for different services. 

• Heal

Heal is a unique medical app that allows users to schedule on-demand house calls, as well as virtual appointments with doctors. Patients can be visited in their homes, meaning that doctors are able to get a more holistic picture of them, including their diet, environment, and lifestyle – allowing them to offer better recommendations for long-term wellness.

Where Can Patients Use Heal?

Heal’s services are currently available in partial states within the United States: California, Maryland, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. 

What Languages Are Available?

Heal doctors can speak Spanish, Mandarin, Farsi, and Hindi, however, their app is only available in English.

Heal: Costs & Health Insurance

Heal is covered by major insurance providers including Medicare, Aetna, Humana and more, and users are informed of their out-of-pocket costs prior to scheduling their appointment.
Non-insured users pay a flat fee of $159 for house calls and $79 for telemedicine appointments.

• ZocDoc

ZocDoc is an online directory of healthcare providers, through which users can find available appointments for a variety of medical care services. The app allows users to choose the type of care they need, from primary care to dentistry, vision, dermatology, and more. Users enter their basic information, choose their location and specify their insurance. From there, they can view providers with open appointment slots within the next 24 hours, which allows them to book instantly online. 

Where Can Patients Use ZocDoc?

ZocDoc’s roster of practitioners is currently in 16 major metropolitan areas, including New York, Baltimore, Seattle, and Washington D.C. 

What Languages Are Available?

ZocDoc’s services are available in languages including English, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, and Italian.

ZocDoc: Costs & Health Insurance

ZocDoc is partnered with top insurance carriers, but their services are completely separate from any costs patients may have associated with visiting the medical provider, including insurance copays. Patients should check with their insurance company to find out how much a doctor’s visit will cost. 

• Air Doctor

Air Doctor connects travelers to local private doctors if they fall ill abroad through their mobile and web app. Their global network of over 20,000 professional medical practitioners includes a range of medical specialists such as GPs, pediatricians, dentists, gynecologists, and more. Users are put in touch with the most appropriate doctor for their needs to set up online, clinic, or at-home consultations. Air Doctor also provides 24/7 telemedicine services across the globe. 

What makes Air Doctor unique is that it focuses on providing care on an international level, ensuring that travelers in foreign countries can seamlessly access medical care as if they were at home.

Where Can Patients Use Air Doctor?

Patients can make use of Air Doctor’s app through their mobile or web app. Air Doctor has doctors in 74 countries across the globe, including many of the most popular tourist destinations, such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Thailand, and Nepal. 

What Languages Are Available?

Air Doctor’s app is available in English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Dutch, French, and Hebrew, but doctors on the network can provide online medical care in up to 15 languages, ensuring travelers can find a doctor who can consult with them in a language of their choice, as well as receive valid local prescriptions. 

Air Doctor: Costs & Health Insurance

Air Doctor is partnered with major insurance companies around the world including, AXA, The Phoenix, Allianz Partners, ERGO, and De Goudse. Insurers who partner with Air Doctor can opt to offer their customers a cashless solution. Non-insured travelers can also make use of the app to browse and book a consult with a doctor that suits their immediate needs and budget. 

In Conclusion

The medical landscape has transformed significantly in the past two years alone. The global pandemic has not only accelerated the use of technology in traditional practices but also revealed that technology may be the answer to providing better accessibility and flexibility of medical care for the public by addressing needs when they arise in new and creative ways.