The Observation Deck

Just located this in my spam folder , from the Cleveland Clinic.
Is this why we need to tear down the medical building in downtown Lakewood?

<ExpressCare@e.clevelandclinicexpresscareonline.org>

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Therese K Buckley

Theresa,

A healthcare expert familiar with the hospital "deal" and CCF told me a majority of the new foundation money will likely spent on CCF marketing.

I got the same solicitation you got too.

Next they will be offering sets GIZU knives if we buy into high cost compromised care they offer.

Here is the link to the Cleveland Clinic Express Care Online information page:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/online-se ... are-online

Take note that the email you (and I and others) received does not make clear that the $49 "fee" may not be covered by your insurance. You pay upfront, prior to your "consultation," then good luck getting your insurance to reimburse you.

More importantly, note that:

The cost of an urgent care visit is $49 for a 10-minute consultation. The cost of specialty services can be discussed with your provider in-person.

So that's $4.90 per minute for a videocall with a doctor, Specifically, one who is NOT a specialist. AND, a doctor who you have likely never seen before and who doesn't know you.

This is precisely the type of "assembly line" medicine that the Cleveland Clinic provides and which they are championing. Impersonal, one size fits all, get them in and out.

Telemedicine has is uses, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to physicians is limited, but is it really appropriate in densely populated cities? What sort of legal protection does the patient have if misdiagnosed or mistreated? Is this another way to shift more of the cost of healthcare to the patient?

Several physician groups have expressed concern over this trend, fearing it will lead to a reduced quality of care. Contact with your primary physician may be enhanced by the use of email or teleconference, but the "doc-in-box" and the "virtual doctor" are schemes not to improve your health, but to improve the bottom line of healthcare systems.