As a result of the global pandemic, the telehealth industry experienced tremendous growth in 2020. As more and more people became confined to their houses and experienced a certain degree of uncertainty about the pandemic, many individuals chose to avoid going into healthcare offices. Instead, they utilized telehealth services to get access to the care that they needed. Data shows that telehealth helped to bring mental and medical health care services to households around the world. One of the companies that have been leading the way is Doctor On Demand.

Doctor on Demand is a telehealth platform which enables users to get face-to-face consultations. It's ideal for individuals who lack the time to go into a traditional office or those who need health care services after traditional business hours. Doctor on Demand is able to match users with doctors regardless if they have insurance. The company proclaims that they already help hundreds of employers and millions of people that rely on them to help save money and time. Users can access Doctor on Demand directly through their website or by downloading their app which can be found in the Android and iOS app store. The platform was developed to streamline the process of accessing mental and physical care through its website or mobile app. It's primary service consist of consultations with psychologists, doctors and psychiatrists who treat a wide range of conditions such as depression, diabetes, asthma, allergies and more. Once a user receives a consultation, they may also get prescription medication which can help to alleviate their conditions.

Features And Benefits

Doctor on Demand provides services to individual users and businesses alike. The process of signing up as a business owner or individual is simple and fast. Upon providing some basic information such as your name and address, the platform will formulate a patient profile. Individuals who have insurance will also be asked to provide information to determine if they'll be covered. Based on the fact that over 400 employers have a partnership with Doctor on Demand, users will also be asked if their employer will help to pay for the services that they use. After this information is submitted, users are then sent to a page where they can choose a mental health professional or medical doctor from a list of providers. Once a user has found the right provider, they can schedule an appointment immediately. Just like a traditional appointment, the provider will ask for information on medical history, symptoms and conduct an exam. Upon conclusion of the appointment, providers may recommend treatment such as lab work or prescription medication.

Doctor on Demand's services are also covered by a vast amount of insurance providers such as Medicare. When it comes to insurance eligibility, the app gives users a simple tab that they can use to type in the name of their insurance company, as to which they receive an instant answer which provides information on whether or not, said insurance plan is eligible for their services. Doctor on Demand's list of services fall under 4 major categories: preventative health, chronic care, behavioral health and urgent care. Within these 4 categories, you can get care for short term conditions such as fevers, sore throats and coughs, as well as chronic conditions like vitamin deficiencies, anxiety and diabetes. It's important to note that the list of conditions that their network of doctors treat is extremely broad. Fortunately, the company provides a list of conditions that they treat. As such, users can check this list before deciding if Doctor On demand is the right platform for their particular condition. The company also list conditions that they don't address such as severe issues like serious burns, ear infections and broken bones.

One of the more interesting features of the platform is that their network of doctors can write prescriptions as they would to a patient in a traditional office. Once a prescription is written, they are sent to the user's local pharmacy as to which they can pick up in as little as a few hours. Their network of providers are also able to assist with medication management problems like medication side effects, information on generic brands and dose changes. But, providers cannot legally write prescriptions for substances which have been deemed to be habit forming such as oxytocin and Xanax.

It's pricing structure consists of one flat fee for medical visits. Meanwhile, the expenses associated with mental healthcare services vary, depending on the condition the user has and the type of treatment they would like to pursue. As of July, 2021, the going rate for a 15-minute appointment is $75. As far as the level of expertise of their network of providers have, the company proclaims that only 6-9% of doctors get accepted into their network. The company also proclaims that they evaluate client feedback and peer reviews for each provider to ensure that providers who work on their platform are some of the best in the industry.

Pros

• Fast And Efficient - Many users have proclaimed that they were able to speak to a doctor within a few minutes and get their prescription filled within 60 minutes. Other patients have praised the app for the level of convenience it provides as it eliminates the need to spend time in a waiting room, or to fill out cumbersome paperwork, before getting care.
• Quality Care - Other users have praised the platform for providing them with professional doctors who were able to provide straight-to-the point and quality care.

Cons

• Missing Appointments - When it comes to making appointments through the app, users need to ensure that they don't miss the appointment as they'll still be charged for that session regardless. While this may not seem like a big deal, several users have pointed out the fact that they were unable to make their appointment because they experienced difficulties with accessing the appointment section of the platform. Other users have missed appointments as a result of internet outages.
• Limited To Video Chats - As it stands, the platform only enables video chats as the main way to communicate with providers on its platform.

Is Doctor On Demand Worth It?

Doctor On Demand gives users access to a vast network of healthcare professionals in a convenience package. Users can set up an appointment with one single click and speak to a professional in as little as half an hour or within a few days. For those that wish to treat a physical related condition such as diabetes, the service is well worth the cost. However, for individuals who need mental health care services, consultation fees can increase tremendously to the tune of hundreds of dollars as opposed to its flat fee of $75 for physical health care consultations.