For years, radiologists have been using tele-radiology with a transmission of images over the Internet from the site of origin to obtain images. Now other segments of medicine are moving into the tele-radiology realm.

The current trend is to have an appointment over the computer or cell phone through apps that connect doctor and the patient. This approach permits access for those who are far away from medical facilities, but is limited by the inability to actually examine the patient.

But the access is very interesting. On the Internet, you can go to Virtual Care app. In the Tampa Bay Area, Day Care is set up so that there is Day Care Anywhere with this medical app.

This service is not intended for acute emergencies, and it is limited by the inability to actually examine a patient. But it does provide additional information for doctors to help perform a video examination.

The cost for services — Virtual Care the cost is $49.00 per visit and for Bay Care Anywhere, the price is $45.00 per visit —is charged only when an actual visit is provided.

There has been significant increase in availability and use of the virtual medical visit in the last year and it is expected that in the next year the use of virtual medical visits will significantly increase by at least 30 percent.