Bill Crounse 2007 05 Did you ever wonder why you can do almost everything on-line these days except "see" your doctor?  Wouldn't it be great if healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics were as net-savvy as other service industries?  Well friends, there is hope.

I want to share an interview I did a few weeks ago with someone who I believe is setting the bar for a new generation of healthcare professionals and the patients they care for.  Someone who isn't afraid to buck the system. Someone who says, "why not?" instead of "why?".  Someone who just plain understands how to leverage the power of the Net in healthcare.  He's not the only one out there.  He may not have perfected the business model.  But he is doing exactly what needs to be done to better serve his patients.  He is leading by example, and I have nothing but admiration for what he is doing.

Meet Dr. Jay Parkinson.  He and I had exchanged a few e-mails, but we had never met.  So, when I found out he was attending a conference in Washington, DC, where I was delivering a keynote, I just had to interview him so I could share his story with all of you.  I sat down in front of a camera provided by my good friends at ScribeMedia (thank you Peter Cervieri), and asked Jay to tell me more about his practice and his patients.  What follows below is the introduction to the program written up by ScribeMedia.  I think you'll enjoy the show.  Just click HERE to view the program. 

Bill Crounse, MD    Senior Director, Worldwide Health    Microsoft Corporation

_____________________________________________________________

image

Jay Parkinson, MD, started a new practice that services patients entirely through the Internet and house calls. Jay has no office of his own. He targets young urban professionals, artists and freelancers within NYC. Most of these people are web savvy and uninsured.

A form on the web site guides patients towards trying to make a diagnosis so that when Jay leaves for a house call he can have the appropriate tools and medicine with him. Because his costs are so low, Jay can pass on the savings to his patients. Essentially, Jay acts as a first line of defense for the health care industry to help guide patients towards a healthy resolution to what ails them. Jay often guides patients towards other providers within the health care system.

Most of Jay’s patients are uninsured. Jay acts, on their behalf, as a patient advocate and health financial consultant. He spends a lot of time finding the best value for a variety of services a patient might need beyond his core services. Jay can then refer patients to those providers that offer good service for a good price. For example, in Manhattan the price of a chest x-ray ranges from $50 to $350. Most patients are unaware of this discrepancy. Without Jay’s help, many would be paying more than what they need to pay for a variety of services.