The practice of medicine by instant message?

The practice of medicine has seen some significant changes in the last number of years…concierge practices, the medical home model, and…instant message?

A Brooklyn physician started a practice in 2007 with nothing more than a computer, an iPhone, and a couple of house calls per year.  The cost?  $500 per year.  The target patient?  The uninsured, young, and wired. 

Whether the model is sustainable and the quality of care is of value remains to be seen.  The innovative approach is worthy of comment though as we’re sure to see more and more of this type of creativity as the tech savvy of our new doctors increases with each graduating class.

Dr. Jay Parkinson launched his medical practice in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn in late September with no waiting room, no fluorescent-lit exam rooms, and best of all, no overhead. Parkinson’s practice is online. Want to reach him? Try instant messenger or e-mail.

Parkinson’s medical practice combines quaint house calls of yore with decidedly 21st-century technology. For a yearly fee of $500, Parkinson makes an initial visit to his patients in their apartments and offers two additional visits as needed. But he is available to them any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays for unlimited consultation on IM or e-mail.