The Doctor Will See You Now… on Your TV

Don’t lose your TV remote, because your next house call by a doctor might be coming to a big screen near you. Telehealth services have seen massive growth as a result of the COVID pandemic. We have written about apps that bring primary medical care to patients in their homes such as CareFirst’s CloseKnit virtual primary care practice app and 98point6, a subscription-based primary care access app. And now a recent joint news release announces a new virtual primary care partnership between Samsung and Palo Alto-based HealthTap.

Samsung Smart TV owners will be able to access their choice from a selection of U.S. Board Certified primary care physicians in their geographic area on HealthTap’s interactive healthcare platform directly on their Smart TV screen. HealthTap membership costs $15 a month and includes unlimited free texting with the doctor. In addition, patients can set video appointments with their physician for $39 and urgent care visits with the first available urgent care clinic physician for $59. Members can also get answers to informational questions about health from a nationwide network of 90,000 volunteer doctors in 147 medical specialties.

Samsung Smart TV owners can connect for a video doctor visit at home with the HealthTap service using a connected camera. Users can select a physician from their own geographic area, choosing from physician profiles that include the doctor’s credentials, video interviews, and ratings from other patients via the video platform. The profiles also include the doctor’s hours and a button to book an appointment.

According to Samsung, seniors are one of the company’s largest customer groups. Large screen doctor visits could likely mean more comfortable user experiences than conversing with a smartphone or tablet display.

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