SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Limited access to mental health care is a critical issue in the United States. To help address this problem, Doctor On Demand announced that it is now offering Behavioral Health Services nationally, through Video Visits with doctorate-level psychologists. Starting today, people experiencing anxiety, stress, depression and relationship issues will have access to mental health care from the comfort of their own homes at an affordable price, via smartphone, tablet or computer.
According to the CDC, 50% of Americans will experience mental and emotional health issues at some point in their lives, but only 40% receive treatment. Often people don’t have access to a psychologist, or don’t know where to turn. Cost is frequently an issue. Doctor On Demand will be there to help people when they need it most.
"The primary goal for all helping professions should be to make quality, cost-effective services available to the largest sector of the population as possible. Given the pace of modern life, this has never been more important for the mental health profession than it is today," said Dr. Phil McGraw, Co-Founder of Doctor On Demand and host of the Dr. Phil show, the #1 Daytime Talk Show in America. "Having devoted our platform to the delivery of sound, evidence-based mental health advice for the last 13 years, we see every day the need for trusted sources of psychological counseling in the lives of good people trying to cope and do a better job in their lives personally and family wise. Doctor On Demand offers users an immediate, cost effective method to connect with mental health professionals using video technology at their fingertips, whenever necessary."
“As a physician, I believe that emotional health is just as important as physical health,” said Dr. Pat Basu, MD, Doctor On Demand’s Chief Medical Officer. “We launched Doctor On Demand a year ago to improve access to physicians. Now we’re doing the same for behavioral health, where millions of Americans can benefit from this transformative offering. Studies have shown that Video Therapy is as clinically effective as in-office therapy, and this service will dramatically increase the convenience, affordability and mainstream accessibility to therapists.”
Today Doctor On Demand also announced its partnership with UpSpring to provide breastfeeding moms one-on-one Video Visits with certified lactation consultants to address breastfeeding issues, questions or concerns. UpSpring lactation consultants are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), and are trained to provide support and manage common breastfeeding concerns or issues affecting mom or baby. Breastfeeding issues and questions can arise at any time of the day or night. Through Doctor On Demand, breastfeeding mothers will now be able to see a lactation consultant at their convenience, without leaving home.
“Breastfeeding doesn't always come easy to new moms," says Julie Jumonville, Co-Founder of UpSpring. "It's not just physical, it's also mental and at times very stressful. According to the CDC, 79% of moms initiate breastfeeding, but those rates drop to 40% at only 12 weeks. Our goal at Doctor On Demand/UpSpring Lactation is to provide greater access to certified lactation consultants to help mom manage common breastfeeding concerns so she can meet her individual breastfeeding goals.”
To schedule appointments with a psychologist or a lactation consultant, patients simply download the free Doctor On Demand app on a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer and answer a few questions about their issues. Patients can view biographies and schedule a session with one of Doctor On Demand's 300+ psychologists, or lactation consultants. Alternatively, patients can find a psychologist available at a time most convenient for them. Patients are also able to schedule regular appointments with the same psychologist or lactation consultant.
The cost of a Video Visit with a doctorate-level psychologist is $50 for a 25-minute session and $95 for a 50-minute session. The cost of a Video Visit with a Doctor On Demand/UpSpring Lactation consultant is $40 for a 25-minute session and $70 for a 50-minute session. Doctor On Demand will also continue to provide Video Visits with Board Certified physicians for nearly every non-emergency medical issues like cold and flu, urinary tract infections, sports injuries and more for $40 per Video Visit.
About Doctor On Demand
Doctor On Demand is a healthcare service that provides Video Visits with board-certified physicians, psychologists, and lactation consultants via smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. Patients simply download the Doctor On Demand app on a smartphone or tablet or visit www.doctorondemand.com on their desktop computer, provide a list of their symptoms, and are instantly connected to a provider licensed in their state for a video visit. Doctor On Demand delivers services through employers, health systems, health plans, and directly to consumers. Entrepreneurs Adam Jackson and Jay McGraw founded the company in 2012 to provide fast, easy, and cost-effective access to high quality medical care. Doctor On Demand is based in San Francisco and has raised $24 million from Venrock, Shasta Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures, Lerer Ventures, angel investor Sir Richard Branson, and Athena Health CEO Jonathan Bush. To learn more, please visit www.doctorondemand.com.
