Now, imagine if you live in Massachusetts. If you thought the wait time to see a doctor was getting longer, you're right. The latest survey from the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) shows that finding an appointment in six of seven specialties is either harder this year or no better than last.  If you're a new patient and want to see a family physician, about half of all practices aren't taking anyone new. If you have a public insurance plan, such as Medicare and Medicaid, then you may have some additional trouble receiving care. 

The report has serious implications for health care costs in the state, according to the MMS, because patients unable to see a primary care physician are likely to seek more expensive emergency room treatment. Even for patients fortunate enough to have a primary care doctor, waits for appointments continued to be lengthy. The average wait for an appointment with an internist was 48 days, which was five days shorter than last year, but the average wait for family medicine was 36 days.

Health insurance is usually tied to jobs in the United States. When unemployment goes up, so does the amount of uninsured people. Employees who are laid off can be offered Cobra insurance, but the rate is often prohibitive. Scared and stressed, many people do not know where to turn, according to Sell Write Now. Telemedicine is the blend of healthcare and technology. Thanks to technology, people now have the choice to consult with a doctor online or over the phone in the comfort of their own home or office.

Not only is a less stressed patient a better patient, but there's also cost savings on gas and parking fees. Many people want to forgo the entire hassle of visiting a doctor, and are opting to do it online or via a phone call with a physician. Seventy percent of non-emergency care can be performed this way. Utilizing telemedicine cuts down on clogging emergency rooms and the risk of catching something in a waiting room. It is also convenient for parents who won't have to find child care, or gamble getting their child sick by bringing them to the doctor's office.

Once a fanciful notion limited to science fiction films, "virtual visits" with health care providers have gone mainstream. Lawmakers, medical professionals and insurance carriers looking for ways to improve health care services and cut costs are turning to "telemedicine," medical consultations offered by phone or electronic communications, such as email and live video, according to TMCNet. As more

employers and private insurers adopt similar policies, the market for telemedicine services in the U.S. is expected to generate $3.6 billion in annual revenue over the next five years, according to a study by research firm Pike & Fischer. The growth of telemedicine is only expected to increase, particularly as PPACA legislation goes into effect in 2014.

As an employer, how do you take advantage of telemedicine for your employees? There are several vendors, but three of the best in the industry are TeleDoc, AmeriDoc, and CallMD. Based on the model provided to the employer, patients who use this product call a toll free number and talk with a medically trained rep who completes a health profile and triage the call to determine the type of medical issue at hand. If the caller is not suffering from an emergency, a return call is scheduled within three hours or less by a physician in the state where the resident is at the time of the call. Patients with critical calls are referred to emergency rooms or to call 911.

Physicians diagnose the medical need, and if necessary, prescribe a medication for the caller to pick up at a local pharmacy. Telemedicine calls are usually "one and done", with the majority of issues satisfied by the physician. Doctors cannot prescribe DEA controlled substances or narcotics. They also recommend other courses of action if the caller has medical issues not readily diagnosed by phone, and a follow up call is made within a timely basis to check on the prognosis of the patient. A recommendation is also usually made that the patient visit a primary care physician if there are any other immediate or long term health care needs.

"The average emergency room visit costs about $1200, but research indicates that most ER visits are non-emergencies," notes David Lindsey, CEO of Ameridoc. "Most doctors' office visits are unnecessary, too, because the patient just wants a second opinion, or they have a common condition." Using telemedicine services, such as those offered by AmeriDoc, patients don't have to wait for an appointment, and they can avoid having to take time off work or school to see a doctor. The cost is far lower – usually under $40 for a phone consultation in some cases, versus about $150 for an office visit to a general practitioner – and the option to have a "virtual doctor visit" also improves the availability of health care in rural areas.

If you want to save money as an employer, especially if your company is self funded for medical claims, then it makes perfect sense to bring on telemedicine. Your employees will use it to save time and money, and your CFO will love you for it. Telemedicine is here to stay. Use it, and increase your bottom line. After all, the doctor will hear you now.