BY RON HARTUNG
DR. BRITTANY ‘TELEMEDICINE’ CRENSHAW
B
y day, Brittany Crenshaw sees internal medicine
patients at Albany Area Primary Health Care
“In my opinion, telemedicine does increase access to care for those
in southwest Georgia. But in the evenings, who don’t have a primary-care physician or lack health insurance,” said
on weekends or while traveling, wherever she Crenshaw, who received a National Health Service Corps loan-repayment
happens to be, she consults with patients from scholarship after residency training.
six states on her iPhone or her laptop.
A year ago she had barely heard of telemedicine, but she decided to
Actually, many telemedicine patients do indeed have insurance. Some
health insurance companies offer the option of direct-to-consumer
give it a try during a brief career pause. Now she has a new outlook on the telemedicine via Doctor on Demand or another provider when patients
delivery of medical care – and a new way to chip away at student loan debt. can’t, or would rather not, visit their regular doctor.
“I don’t expect to let the traditional side of medicine go completely,” said
Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
“I’ve seen patients who are traveling,” said Crenshaw, who’s married to a
Crenshaw (M.D., ’10). “I like doing both so far. Having a virtual office, physician and lives in Thomasville, Georgia. “They have a history of seasonal
I can take my cellphone, iPad or computer anywhere. It’s just me and the allergies, their sinuses start to act up, their symptoms get worse. You see them
patient with no interruptions. And I don’t have to deal with insurance in their hotel or beach home. Everyone else is having fun and they’re like, ‘Doc,
companies or paperwork. From a doctor’s perspective, this takes away a lot I’m not really feeling good. I want to enjoy the few days left on my vacation.’”
of the headaches.”
She has worked with two nationwide telemedicine networks: She was
As she speaks to them, she can review their electronic medical records,
conduct a physical exam with the patient’s assistance, order lab tests if necessary
an independent contractor with Teladoc and is a part-time physician and, when appropriate, send a prescription to the nearest pharmacy.
with Doctor on Demand. She’s licensed in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, It’s convenient. It’s relatively anonymous – which some patients
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