Ask the Doctor - The Service

What is the Ask-the-Dr Service?

Ask-the-Dr specializes in connecting people to doctors, anytime of day, seven days a week. Ask-the-Dr offers convenient and affordable access to quality physician care. Ask-the-Dr provide its members with convenient access to telephonic, video and email consultations with physicians independently contracted as participating providers in our network.  Members have access to licensed physicians and board-certified specialists for two types of medical consultations:

• Informational Medical Consultations by telephone or email for medical information and general advice
• Diagnostic Medical Telephone Consultations by telephone or video for evaluation, diagnosis and prescription medication as appropriate

How do I enroll?

Ask-the-Dr provides you with two ways to enroll. You can either call Enrollment Support at 1-888-448-7633 to enroll over the phone, or you can click here to enroll online.

How does a consultation work?

Ask-the-Dr provides access to physicians for telephone, video or secure email consultations. The medical services offered during a consultation can range from providing general advice to making a diagnosis, recommending treatment, and even prescribing medication, when appropriate.

After you have selected the best plan for you and enrolled as a member, you can either pick up the phone and dial or send an email to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.

For information, you will be connected with a doctor immediately.  For diagnostic consultations, Ask-the-Dr locates a physician licensed in the state where you are at that time and that doctor calls you back, usually within one hour (3 hours guaranteed).

Once connected, consult with the physician about your questions (informational consultation), or get diagnosis, recommended treatment, and prescription, when appropriate (diagnostic consultation).

The physician then documents your consultation in your electronic medical record, which you may choose to transfer to your primary care physician.  You may also email your consulting doctor for follow-up.

Do I talk to “real doctors”?

Yes. All of the physicians in the AmeriDoc Physician Network℠ are U.S.-based, licensed physicians and board-certified specialists.

What conditions can be treated by a telephone consultation with a physician?

Ask-the-Dr provides access to physicians for the treatment of non-emergent, common conditions involving routine primary care. Specific examples include Acid reflux, High Blood Pressure, Pediatric Care, Joint ache & pains, Asthma, Nausea, Cold & Flu, Birth control, Pneumonia (mild),  Constipation, Fever, Bronchitis, Sinus conditions, Cellulitis, Sore throat, Pinkeye, Stomach viruses, Urinary tract infections, Diabetes, and others. Should a member present a case that, in the judgment of the consulting doctor, requires further examination, the consulting physician may recommend that the patient see a primary care physician.

Can Ask-the-Dr handle my emergency situations?

Ask-the-Dr is designed to handle day-to-day routine medical problems. You should NOT use it if you are experiencing a medical emergency.  For an emergency, dial 911.

Where are Ask-the-Dr’s services available?

Ask-the-Dr’s services are available from anywhere, as long as the member has telephone or Internet access. Members can use the service from home, at work, or while traveling.  Diagnostic consultations and prescriptions are not available in Oklahoma.

Can I get a consultation after hours or on weekends/holidays?

Yes.  Ask-the-Dr’s physicians are available 24/7/365.

Is the service the same as a nurse’s hot line?

No. The service is very different from a nurse hot line. Unlike the Ask-the-Dr telemedicine service, nurses do not have the educational background, training, or licensing to practice comprehensive medicine. They cannot make a medical diagnosis, and they cannot prescribe medical treatment or medications.

Why might someone use Ask-the-Dr when he/she could go to an urgent care center or some other kind of walk-in clinic?

Urgent care clinics are a lower-cost setting than the emergency room and serve a very valuable purpose in the continuum of care. However, the clinic setting is still much more expensive and often unnecessary for many common medical conditions.

Why might someone use the service instead of just going to WebMD or another online health content provider?

WebMD provides valuable information. Sometimes after reading information on the Internet, people want to get clarification from a doctor who can help sort through some of the technical issues.  With Ask-the-Dr, you can ask a licensed physician exactly what you need to know without having to search for answers with uncertain results.

Why might someone use the Ask-the-Dr service instead of seeing their own doctor?

According to the Wellness Councils of America, as many as 70% of doctor office visits and emergency room visits are unnecessary. While the care may have been necessary, the travel and cost of the visit could have been avoided. Ask-the-Dr provides a more convenient, cost-effective alternative to the high cost setting of a doctor’s office or ER. Ask-the-Dr believes that our services can reduce healthcare costs, maximize physician access for rural residents, and offer convenience without sacrificing quality of care.

Does Ask-the-Dr’s service replace the need for a Primary Care Physician?

Ask-the-Dr’s service does not replace the need for a Primary Care Physician. The service is designed to supplement care administered by the member’s primary care physician. It should only be used as alternative to the traditional health care setting as needed.

Does the physician review the member’s medical history before performing a consult?

Yes. The patient must provide full medical history to the physician prior to the telephone consult. The consulting physician reviews the medical history that is provided by the member, and any other relevant medical records stored in the member’s HIPAA-compliant electronic medical record.

How does Ask-the-Dr obtain the member’s medical history?

Members are required to complete a comprehensive medical history prior to participating in a diagnostic consultation. The medical history questionnaire becomes a permanent part of the member’s electronic medical record and is available to be updated by the member at any time. Prior to every diagnostic medical consultation, the automated system will ask the member if there are any changes or updates to the medical history that is on file. The detailed medical history is similar to the information an individual provides during his or her first office visit to a Primary Care Physician, including past medical history, previously diagnosed conditions, current medications, and allergies.

How are patient records maintained at Ask-the-Dr?

Our service follows the laws and regulations related to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and patient privacy. The Member provides the medical history and is responsible for updates and any related medical information they choose to load into their medical record. Additionally, after each consultation, the physician amends the patient record with the relevant medical progress notes. Provided the member has supplied the proper HIPAA release documents, the medical record can be shared with the member’s primary care physician facilitating continuity of care.

What are the different types of medical consultation services offered?

We offer two different types of telemedicine services: Informational Consultations (by telephone or email) and Diagnostic Consultations (by telephone or video).

How do I request a consultation?

Immediately after registering, members can log into their account to email a physician, or simply call 1-877-263-7409.

Are there any restrictions on the amount of times I can consult with a doctor?

There are no restrictions to how often you can contact our physicians. Use the service as often as you need.

Can members access the service from abroad?

Yes, the system is accessible from anywhere, provided the member has telephone or Internet access. Diagnostic consults require a call back from the doctor, and our system can only call U.S.-based phone numbers.

Can consulting physicians recommend specific primary care physicians or specialists?

While Ask-the-Dr is not a referral service, participating physicians in the Ask-the-Dr Physician Network are free to make such recommendations that they deem appropriate.

Can someone who has a pre-existing condition still be a member?

Yes. This is not insurance, so there are no exclusions or access denials because of pre-existing conditions. There are no additional fees if the member has a pre-existing condition.

Yes!  Our family plans include you, your spouse, and all dependents living with you.

Is there a minimum age requirement?

Yes. Members must be at least 18 years of age. Dependents or secondary members, may be minors, however a guardian must conduct a medical diagnostic consultation on behalf of an underage dependent that is on the account.

Who can become a member?

Anyone is accepted regardless of pre-existing conditions.

Do members have the opportunity to upgrade?

Individual memberships have many levels of service, and individual members can upgrade their plan at any time. Members that are enrolled through a group plan may or may not be able to upgrade depending on the nature of the group agreement. Call Enrollment Support at 1-888-448-7633 to upgrade.