FAQ

Why should I choose Doctors Direct?

PEACE OF MIND… If you get sick, your questions will be answered and a house call doctor will visit you at home if needed. You maintain your trusted doctor. Doctors Direct forwards records and reports to him and assures you have adequate follow-up.

What is the difference between Doctors Direct and a walk-in clinic or emergency room visit?

With Doctors Direct, you are a member. Benefits of membership can include access to medical personnel 7 days a week. By contacting a trained medical associate at Doctors Direct, a visit to a walk-in clinic or emergency room can probably be avoided. If Doctors Direct medical personnel determine a doctor’s visit is needed, you will receive a personalized house call. No waiting with ill patients in a waiting room for hours.

What is the greatest value in becoming a Doctors Direct member?

Personal attention makes the difference.

Real emergencies have to be treated in the Emergency Room. But, 9 out of 10 ER visits are non-emergencies resulting in unnecessary expense for patients, insurance companies and government programs.

FACTS:

  • For both, office and emergency room visits, Doctors Direct has enough medical capability to handle 90% of the calls.
  • As a Doctors Direct member, you will not have to go to the ER for x-rays, lab tests or diagnostic ultrasounds. Those tests come to you!
  • The average ER visit cost $500 - $3000
  • Hospital fees range from $250 to $2500 per visit
  • Hospitals charge for all radiological tests
  • Doctors fees in an ER or walk-in clinics range from $72 - $450.
  • Waiting time in an emergency rooms vary by area, but averages 1.5- 3.5 hours.
  • Doctors Direct mobile unit brings treatment to you: breathing treatments, injections, basic orthopedics, laboratory testing, x-rays and diagnostic ultrasounds.

What are the most common reasons for visiting the ER?

  1. Routine Child Health
  2. Otitis media (ear infection)
  3. Acute upper respiratory infection (i.e. the common cold)
  4. Acute pharyngitis (i.e. sore throats)
  5. Attention-deficit disorder
  6. Asthma
  7. Chronic sinusitis
  8. Vaccine for bacterial disease
  9. Streptococcal sore throat
  10. Allergic rhinitis (i.e. hay fever, "allergies")

Source: AHRQ - Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality

Among children and adolescents, respiratory disorders were the most frequent reason for admission to the hospital through the ED, accounting for 27.8 percent of all such admissions.

Asthma was the single most common reason for hospital stays that began in the ED with over 95,000 hospital admissions (accounting for 8.5 percent of all pediatric admissions through the ED).

For the youngest children (age 0 to 4), respiratory conditions mainly acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma comprised about 40 percent of stays that began in the ED.

Injuries first treated in the ED that resulted in admission to the hospital increased with age among children and adolescents. About 4 percent of children under 1 were admitted through the ED compared with about 30 percent of 15 to 17 year olds.

Top 10 reasons for admission to the emergency room for children and adolescents:

  1. Asthma
  2. Pneumonia
  3. Acute bronchitis
  4. Appendicitis
  5. Fluid and electrolyte disorders
  6. Epilepsy, convulsions
  7. Urinary tract infection
  8. Mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder)
  9. Intestinal infection
  10. Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections

Top 10 reasons for admission to the emergency room for adults:

  1. Sprains and strains
  2. Superficial injury, bruise
  3. Abdominal pain
  4. Back pain
  5. Open wounds of extremities
  6. Nonspecific chest pain
  7. Headache, including migraine
  8. Other upper respiratory infections (nose, throat, trachea)
  9. Skin and subcutaneous tissue infections
  10. Urinary tract infections

Source: AHRQ, Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) and State Inpatient Databases (SID) for the following 23 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

What type of physicians are associated with Doctors Direct?

Internal medicine, family medicine and geriatrics.

What if additional testing is required?

Doctors Direct will help find a doctor or contact you primary physician and your hospital of choice.

How are x-rays and ultrasounds taken and examined?

The equipment used for both our digital x-rays and ultrasounds is fully portable, and either exam can be done within the comfort of your home or office. Both x-ray and ultrasound results are analyzed by board-certified radiologists. You may even receive your same-day ultrasound reports via the Internet, allowing you to retrieve, review, and print the images.