Telehealth company launches direct-to-consumer imaging order service
A telehealth platform is expanding its reach into states throughout the U.S. with its new diagnostic offering.
Las Vegas-based Diagnostic Orders Direct announced Tuesday that its virtual consultations will now be available in 30 states. The direct-to-consumer service is designed to help patients cut through the red tape of referrals to acquire imaging, lab or other medical exams more promptly.
For a flat fee of $40, patients can speak with a licensed medical professional who will review their symptoms, medical history and prior testing to determine if the imaging exam the patient is requesting is appropriate. If it is, the provider will submit the order and, if necessary, help facilitate a referral to a specialist. If the exam requires the use of contrast media, a recent eGFR—estimated glomerular filtration rate, a calculation used to check how well your kidneys filter waste from your blood—lab must be available for review.
“Patients often know something needs to be evaluated, but they may not know whether the next step is imaging, lab work, an EKG, or referral to a specialist,” a company news release notes. “Diagnostic Orders Direct was built to give patients a practical starting point while keeping medical appropriateness and provider judgment at the center of every order.”
The process is designed to be simple and quick. Providers aim to respond to requests within one business day and are available to complete virtual consultations seven days a week. Providers can send imaging orders directly to patients so that they can complete their exam at the facility of their choice.
The company is offering these virtual services in a bid to improve access for patients. Similar to other direct-to-consumer medical services, such as voluntary whole-body MR imaging clinics, the consultations offer patients the convenience of cutting through administrative red tape. However, the company maintains that its services are not a substitute for a primary care provider.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.