Yes, there is an app for everything these days, and living in NYC, we usually get to test them out before the rest of the world. We’re just lucky to have more people per square-foot than almost any other place on the planet. Being a New Yorker, sometimes I forget that we are the “unusual” ones (preschool admissions, $3,000 a month for a tiny apartment). When friends come to visit me, they are always amused with how I use apps to perform their everyday tasks (Fresh Direct for groceries, Seamless for delivery, and Uber to bring a car to my doorstep when it’s raining). And now, well, doctors are really “on call.”
The new 2016 Doctor
I wouldn’t call myself a lazy person, but I just don’t find a real need to rush off to a doctor every time I get a cold. Growing up on a farm, the closest doctor or hospital was over an hour away, so you best only be going if it was really serious. Especially here in NYC, our own doctor is still an hour subway ride away, and wait times at a walk-in clinic can be more than lengthy. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there exposing yourself to other sick and contagious people. So, when I heard about the Pager App, I had to learn more.
What is The Pager App?
Pager is a newly launched, up-and-coming health-tech start-up reinventing the traditional doctor house call with a location-based mobile marketplace in San Francisco and the 5 boroughs of New York City (yes, Queens!). Through Pager, users can save time finding a reputable doctor, waiting for a scheduled appointment, and tackling the crowded emergency room (just like Uber or Seamless would do to find who is currently available in your area) via your smart phone. Board-certified doctors treat a wide variety of primary and urgent care issues, all in the patient’s home, office, or hotel.
The cool part? Pager can be used for both urgent care AND preventative care, as they offer services to people BEFORE they get sick via health checks and flu shots, in addition to serving folks when they’re sick in bed.
Obviously if you have an emergency, you should dial 9-1-1 or go to the ER, but for other minor ailments, this is the greatest new invention on the block.
Let me walk you through it!
How Pager Works
Last week we spent a few days at an indoor waterpark in the Poconos. Two days later, Max was running a slight fever and some discharge was coming out of his eyes. Since that isn’t normal for him, I knew I should probably look into it. I Googled it and of course, death and cancer. Awesome. So instead I used the Pager App to contact a doctor before hauling a sick (and possibly contagious) child on the public subway to see his primary doctor.
On the app, it will find your location and then ask you to choose:
Health Check: a simple assessment of your health and wellness that includes key numbers such as blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. This does not include Family Planning.
Physical:
Physical exams and tests required for camp, school and employment.
Urgent care visit:
Evaluation and diagnosis for common infections and illnesses, with prescriptions when medically needed.
Treatment for minor skin conditions, including rashes, fungus, burns and more.
First aid care for minor injuries, including sprains and wounds requiring suturing. (remember when I thought I broke my toe??)
Urgent care treating illnesses and injuries for children 6 months and older.
Flu Shot: (self-explanatory)
I chose illness/urgent care and it prompted me to give some details. It then offers the name and photo of the “attending physician” – we had Dr. Abraham Berger, MD, who called us within five minutes.
I described the symptoms my son was having, and he said a bacterial infection from waterparks is common. He then asked me to text him a couple photos of Maximo’s eye through the app to see if he could diagnose without having to see him.
Within a few minutes, he called us back and said yes, it was easy to see it was conjunctivitis – a bacterial infection of the eye. He didn’t even have to see Max in person, and it saved us a huge trip – especially since he IS contagious. After giving us some directions on how to prevent the spread to me (warm washcloths on the eyes, putting down towels on his pillow at night), he called us in a script for eyedrops.
Overall thoughts on Pager – and a free trial service for you!
As a parent, this doctor-on-demand service is life changing. Not only for my son, but for me. Remember, moms get sick too, and now you don’t have to peel yourself off the couch and get a toddler dressed when you can barely more just to see a doctor! As far as pricing, Pager of course is not a free service, but falls in line with what you would be paying for a co-pay for a emergency room or office visit anyways. Remember, in New York, you’re paying for connivence, so if you want to have a doctor make a house call just like Royal Pains (one of my favorite shows!), you can have Hank Med come to you instead of infecting half of Queens on the way to the doctor. Try it, I know you’ll be impressed enough to let it take up that precious app space on your smart phone.
To try out the new Pager app for a free one-time service, use the code “motherhood.” This code and service are good through January 31, 2016, so what are you waiting for! Download it here.
This is a sponsored post. Thank you for supporting Football Food and Motherhood.
Wow, this is AWESOME!!! I can’t begin to tell you how many members of my online mommy groups are posting photos and symptoms daily asking for diagnosis and help with their child’s illness, mastitis, etc etc – from other moms (not medical professionals)!! This app is EVERYTHING!!!
What a wonderful idea! My two younger kids have had hives lately and it’s been confused with bug bites — being able to send a doc a picture would have saved me a lot of time running to the doctor.
I always thought this was a great idea, I actually have a gift certificate I need to use. I am adjusting to a new home and didn’t switch doctors yet so this will come in handy.