BCBS of Minnesota rolls out a virtual clinic

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, working with American Well's online service, will soon begin offering Minnesotans access to live interactions with physicians and other clinicians.

The partners' Online Care services allow a physician or other clinician to review patients' clinical information, speak with and see patients, prescribe medications as needed, and suggest follow-up care. The system works with with HealthVault, Microsoft's online personal health record platform, to allow patients to share the encounter with their primary care doctor. 

Virtual clinics sited at worksites will emphasize prevention, monitor for common illness and offer preventative/wellness care.
The Blue plan will roll out the virtual clinics to 10,000 employees and family members as it kicks off, but eventually plans to expand dramatically, perhaps as soon as by 2010.

To learn more about the launch:
- read this Healthcare IT News piece