Location: United States
Heal is making doctor house calls accessible by providing booking through their app. If an in-person appointment for a physical assessment isn’t necessary, patients can use the app for video consults.
Getting to a traditional doctor appointment can be a struggle for some. Mobility may be an issue, they may live far from the nearest clinic, or they may not want to spend time in the waiting room. This is especially true during Covid-19 since social distancing is vital to slowing the spread. Video consults are one solution, but not always practical if a physical assessment is necessary. Sometimes, people prefer the convenience of having a consultation in their own home.
The app allows people to book doctors seven days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm, and can often offer an appointment the same day. Doctors go to the patient’s home wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) and bring sanitised medical equipment. Doctors can take vitals, write prescriptions, and order tests just as they would in a clinic. If the user doesn’t feel an in-person appointment is necessary, they can also consult with a doctor through video chat using the app.
“The founding story behind heal is a personal one, born out of a long wait in an emergency department. Heal seeks to provide convenience, continuity and a cost-effective approach to home visits. They are a scarce resource within many healthcare systems, often reserved for those who are homebound or seriously ill. Heal makes it possible for a primary care doctor or paediatrician to see a patient within the comfort of their home, which in itself is insightful for the doctor. Practically, there are operational efficiencies of running solely a home visiting service, rather than having a doctor in a clinic and the same doctor also doing home visits.”
– Dr Vinay Shankar
Website: https://heal.com/
Email: support@heal.com
Image: Heal