Doxy.me

A video room for clinicians, free for individual providers

Built exclusively for healthcare professionals, Doxy.me is a telemedicine service. Each clinician gets a personal virtual room that patients enter through a browser on any computer, tablet or phone, so there is nothing for the patient to install. The company says more than one million providers use it, that it has been in operation for over a decade, and that it handles millions of minutes of video each day.

Free access and the thinking behind it

The company's position is that cost should not stand in the way of telemedicine, and that care providers should have a simple, secure video tool at no charge. An individual provider registers without paying and can download a free business associate agreement. The vendor says the signup takes under a minute. Its stated belief is that remote care makes it easier and more affordable for providers to look after patients wherever they are, and that accessibility has guided the design for both clinicians and patients.

What the platform includes

• Private video sessions between a provider and a patient, with extra video tools meant to keep a session clear and focused.
• Clinical documentation: SOAP and DAP note templates and the forms a session calls for are on hand when records are needed.
• Familiar workflows, designed to slot into the way a practice already works without extra setup, and to integrate with other systems.

Privacy and compliance

The company states that the service meets HIPAA, GDPR, PHIPA and PIPEDA, and HITECH requirements, and presents this as meeting security requirements around the world.

Telemedicine and telehealth, as the company explains them

Its site separates the two terms. Telemedicine is the use of communications technology to deliver real-time clinical care at a distance. Telehealth is wider and also covers non-clinical uses such as billing, administrative meetings, education and training. The company says remote care reduces barriers such as distance, transport and gaps between visits, which helps patients reach care and lets providers see more people in less time.