Electronic Health Reporter

Thanks to a new mobile app some patient appointments can now be as quick and personal as a Skype or FaceTime call. TouchCare enables face-to-face video appointments on a triple-encrypted line for secure conversations between physicians and their own patients using smartphones or tablets. Designed for medical practices of all sizes, from solo providers to hospitals, the app can be easily deployed with a simple download from the app store.

TouchCare provides a more personal approach for supplementing in-office visits, which can lead to stronger patient relationships, increased patient satisfaction and improved continuity of care. The platform’s video appointments are ideal for follow-up, test results, medication refills, afterhours care and doctor-to-doctor communication. It is also being commended for use with seniors, other patients with poor mobility, parents with young children and as a better alternative to a variety of “call me if” situations.

The new app also gives physicians the option to charge for these remote consultations, unlike with traditional phone calls. While some insurance companies are still establishing policies for mobile health, the industry demand is clear – and is growing at an exponential pace. In fact, Forbes Magazine named it the “Top Health Trend for 2014” citing a study forecasting a 50 percent spike in phone, computer and tablet use for healthcare purposes in the United States this year alone.

“Technology and the way we use it to enhance our lives is changing so rapidly – yet it has not made healthcare more accessible for patients. If anything, it is harder to connect with your own doctor than in years past,” said Damian Gilbert, TouchCare¹s founder and CEO. “TouchCare is delivering on this need, offering technology that both improves and expedites healthcare for both patient and doctor.

While services in the market offer connection to an unknown physician for a fee, we designed TouchCare to allow users to connect to their own health providers for scheduled video calls, and to do so in an easy way. TouchCare looks and feels like all of your favorite mobile apps.”

TouchCare is HIPAA compliant and makes privacy a top priority. Using encryption technology, the app creates a secure line of communication between doctors and patients to ensure confidentiality. It can save providers both time and money with easy, cost-effective implementation into existing operations – simply download and start using it.

“We offer a practical, clear-cut solution,” continued Gilbert.

“Because TouchCare has been created with both providers and patients in mind, the focus is on convenience in a very positive and personal way. We¹re delivering on both remote, mobile access and better quality of care with an easy to use, completely secure solution.”

TouchCare officially launched in March 2014 and is already being used by physicians in both North Carolina and New York. The early stage startup was founded by Gilbert and a group of frustrated consumers who recognized a need for better care when immediate doctor visits were not possible.

TouchCare is free to patients and free to try for physicians. For additional information, visit: www.touchcare.com.

About TouchCare

Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, TouchCare offers the convenience and better quality of care that both physicians and patients now demand. The app brings mobile health to mobile people, offering patients a way to remotely connect with their own doctors through private face-to-face video calls via smart phones or tablets.

TouchCare officially launched in early 2014 and is already used by providers at some of America’s leading medical centers, including Mount Sinai in New York City. For more information, visit:

www.touchcare.com.