There are more than 30 million annual medical visits for ear infections each year. In fact, ear infections are the most common reason parents bring children to see a health care provider. Now, independent pharmacies can offer their communities a comprehensive alternative to costly urgent care or ER visits for ear infections. myphysician360’s ear-infection kit includes an otoscope that plugs into a patient’s computer that allows a board-certified medical professional to diagnose the patient through the included telemedicine visit. Once diagnosed, a patient can have the prescription (if indicated) sent right to your pharmacy.
Acute otitis media, otherwise known as an ear infection, is an inflammation of the middle ear caused by the build-up of fluid. While ear infections affect people of all ages, children are most likely to develop one due to the size of their eustachian tubes, a pair of narrow tubes that run from each middle ear to high in the back of the throat, behind the nasal passages. Signs and symptoms common in children include:
- Ear pain, especially when lying down
- Tugging or pulling at an ear
- Trouble sleeping
- Crying more than usual
- Fussiness
- Trouble hearing or responding to sounds
- Loss of balance
- Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
More than 80 percent of children have at least one ear infection by the time they are just three years old, so how can parents prepare for such a common condition? The myphysician360 Ear Infection Kit is packaged with everything patients need to diagnose ear infections from the safety and comfort of their own home! Instead of your patients spending hundreds on ear infection visits to urgent care or the ER each year, the otoscope kit retails at $79.95 over-the-counter and then can be reused by patients at need. An additional consultation costs patients only $29.95 going forward, once they own the myphysician360 otoscope.
Especially for families with multiple children or chronic ear infection issues, being able to get a professional diagnosis at home without long delays in crowded waiting rooms and excessive costs can mean very important savings in time and money. When the diagnosis is done, myphysician360 can fax any required medication prescriptions directly to your pharmacy for the patient to pick-up or for delivery. Offering telemedicine services can help your pharmacy better serve the community.
Ear infections are diagnosed using a lighted instrument with a camera, called an otoscope, to look at the ears, throat and nasal passages. It allows for the inspection of the external ear canal and tympanic membrane under magnification by using a battery-powered light source and an optical magnifying system. The myphysician360 reusable otoscope comes with a telemedicine visit with one of our professionals in five minutes or less, any day of the year. Now, you can help patients add the otoscope to a medicine cabinet and simply plug it into the computer when they suspect an infection. A myphysician360 provider will guide the patient through an accurate diagnosis. If warranted, a prescription can be sent to your pharmacy, ultimately increasing your sales. They also make a great gift for expectant mothers and new parents!
Seeking care for an ear infection can be very frustrating. So help your customers skip the wait time and avoid unnecessary exposure to other people’s germs. Stock up on over-the-counter, at-home kits today!
