"They include requesting appointments, being able to get laboratory results via the Internet, to be able to ask medical questions, billing questions."
And of course... promote the parent company as well, directly and indirectly... .
"One of the real problems with medications is poor compliance. And one of the reasons for that is very often patients don't really understand what is the condition I have... why was this product prescribed... what's the benefit if I take it... what's the drawback if I don't. If through this service we can provide more information, we believe we'll get better compliance..that will mean more sales of our drugs, but also better results for the patient."
By making it more convenient to schedule appointments and get lab results... Aventis hopes patients will become part of its sales force for MyDocOnline... .asking their doctors to enroll...
"Right now our primary push is with the physicians themselves and right now with the large clinics. Within the next couple of months we'll also be focusing on any individual or small practice can also have a version that they can utilize."
You can find more information at mydoconline. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.