Froedtert's New Virtual Clinic Gaining Popularity

The days of waiting hours to see a doctor are slowly fading. A new clinic is helping treat patients from the comfort of their own home.

Molly Thiel is a busy woman. \"I have two kids who are in a ton of activities. I work a full time job that is pretty demanding. I don't have a lot of time really, ever,\" said Thiel.

She especially doesn't have time to get sick, but she did back in March. Her asthma was acting up and she had a high fever for about 4 days.

\"I did not have time to go to the doctor, nor did I feel well enough to leave the house and wait for three hours at an urgent care or wherever else I would try to get in,\" said Thiel.

She heard about Froedtert's Virtual Clinic and gave them a call.

\"I got more attention with him on the phone then I would have had I been at a doctor's office,\" said Thiel.

The virtual clinic started about two months ago and has already seen 200 patients via sykpe, facetime or even just over the phone.

You log onto Froederts website, click the virtual clinic, fill out some basic information, then wait anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes for a call back.

\"It's a board certified practitioner. Some of them are nurse practitioners some are medical doctors,\"said Mike Anderes, vice president, service lines and digital health for Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.

They talk about your symptoms and can even send a prescription to your local pharmacy.

\"The service is not indicated for say a narcotic or something that is a controlled substance. These are for simple medical conditions,\" explained Anderes.

Everything from fevers to rashes.

60 percent of the patients that have been helped through virtual clinic are women. In fact, most of the people giving this a try are busy moms just like Molly.

\"I had deadlines that i had to meet. I had my kids that were going to be home soon. I didn't have the flexibility to go someplace and sit and wait my turn,\" said Thiel.

The virtual clinic is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who lives in Wisconsin under 65 years old and who is not on Medicad or Badger Care.

Each virtual visit costs 49 dollars.