The Medical Society of Delaware entered into its first partnership with a telemedicine company, The News Journal reports.
The telemedicine company, called Mend, connects a patient with their physician via an app. While other telemedicine companies have approached the Medical Society of Delaware, a spokesperson told The News Journal the society wanted to ensure any remote care programs it recommended maintained continuity of care between patients and their existing providers.
About a dozen physicians in Delaware pay a fee to access Mend's services. One physician, James Gill, MD, president of Wilmington, Del.-based Family Medicine at Greenhill and a physician affiliate of Wilmington, Del.-based Christiana Care Health System, told The News Journal he appreciated the opportunity to use a program recommended by the society.
"I understand why patients like it," he said. "They want to do something. They'd rather do a video chat than be physically in an [emergency room]."