Have you started to notice the shift to telehealth? These days you can get pretty much anything online, including medical services.
SteadyMD is a membership-based medical service that’s bridging the gap between visiting your general practitioner and getting your medical health taken care of online from the comfort of your own home.
Through technology, this service seeks to emulate the close-knit relationship you have with your family doctor without the hassle of driving to an appointment and waiting in the waiting room and deal with common pitfalls associated with in-person medical visits.
I discovered SteadyMD very recently and decided to test it out for myself. Here’s my honest, unbiased review of my experience with this telehealth provider.
Reviews of SteadyMD: What Are Customers Saying Online About Steady MD?
According to Appgrooves, there are 22 reviews about SteadyMD. After reading all testimonials, I found that the average rating is 4 out of 5 stars. In addition, their facebook page reports 30 reviews with an average of 5 out of 5 stars. These testimonials are reviewing the service, not the app itself.
The majority of the reviews are positive, however, there are a handful of negative reviews regarding the App specifically, not the service. Some users complain that the app is difficult to use or is confusing.
The company has dealt with all negative reviews promptly and to the satisfaction of the user, which shows a strong sign that this brand is dedicated to customer service and approval.
To sum it up, most SteadyMD users seem to be extremely pleased with their innovative telehealth service that provides an intimate level of primary care online. Most men, women, and families who use this service agree that the convenience of having 24/7 access to their doctor far outweighs any app glitches they may experience.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
SteadyMD is an excellent service for those who travel often or who simply don’t wish to go visit an in-person doctor if they don’t have to. With COVID-19 and other illnesses, more and more people are turning to telehealth to support them instead of going to visit a physical doctor’s office. The best part about this service is that they allow you to have the same doctor for every visit. Your doctor knows who you are, knows your history, and cares about your treatment and wellbeing.
You won’t find yourself explaining yourself over and over again to different doctors. You aren’t just thrown into a queue where you get who you get. Those that will benefit most from this service are those who want specialized, custom care from a provider who they feel a connection with. Also, those who have frequent medical issues and/or questions and want access to a reliable, steady MD quickly and easily.
How is The Doctor Patient Relationship?
When utilized correctly, the relationship you’ll have with your doctor will help you live your healthiest, happiest life. You should be able to detect diseases and issues more readily, helping to prevent any complications or emergency trips to the emergency room. That said, it’s important to keep in mind that this does NOT replace the need for traditional healthcare insurance. This is a supplementary service that’s meant to add convenience and value to those who value a close-knit, on-call relationship without the hassles associated with visiting a doctor in person.
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Why Choose SteadyMD?
Let’s be honest, traditional healthcare doesn’t have time for you, yet you’re expected to waste a lot of time with them. Think of it this way, with a typical in-person doctor experience, you go through some version of the following steps to get started:
Traditional Doctor Appointment Process
- Find a doctor you think you’ll like by asking around for referrals, Googling, and taking to social media.
- You call the office and make an appointment, usually for at least a few weeks out.
- You drive to the office and wait in the waiting room for at least 30 minutes.
- Then, you wait in the exam room for another 30 minutes or so.
- Finally, you see the doctor who spends all of 5-10 minutes with you.
- You leave, drive home, and wonder how you’re going to get your follow-up questions answered.
It’s a very frustrating process. Traditional primary care doctors are maxed out with their patient load which means that they simply don’t have time for you. With around 2500 patients each and 25-30 appointments per day, you’re just another number or face in the crowd, unfortunately.
A New Way of Setting Up Doctor Appointments
It’s different with SteadyMD. They take a completely new approach to primary care, blending the best of both worlds. You can access to a reliable, licensed doctor who you trust and form a relationship with but without all the stress, hassle, and brevity that you experience when you visit the doctor in person.
Since the platform is completely online, you can get customized, quality care anytime you want, from anywhere in the world. And the doctors are limited on their patient load which means that you don’t have to compete for your doctor’s time and attention because they have enough to go around.
Traditional Primary Care VS SteadyMD
Time and Attention You Need | Traditional Primary Care | SteadyMD |
|---|---|---|
# of patients per doctor | Over 2,500 total patients and they see around 25-30 each day. | Less than 600, which comes out to 4x more personal time. |
Personal time with doctor per visit | 10-12 Minutes on average. If you want more, you most likely have to make another appointment. | Up to 1 full hour, and as often as you need. |
Ability to call, text, video chat | It's highly unlikely to get an immediate response. | Yes. Unlimited. |
Treatment from physician assistant or nurse | Most of the time it is the nurse performing treatment because the doctor simply can't handle all patients. | Never. Always your same doctor |
Dr. reaches out to you (unprompted by you) | No | Yes |
Retrieves past medical records from previous doctors and hospitals | No | Yes |
Doctor gets to know you personally | Not as much as they should, but they simply don't have that much time. | Yes. With the time allocated, you will build an authentic relationship. |
How it Works: Steady MD Step by Step Process
The process for getting started looks like this:
Step 1
You fill out a comprehensive questionnaire that covers all areas of your health.
Step 2
You’ll be matched with a doctor who is licensed in your state but based on your medical needs, personal goals and interests, and other important life factors. You will have the option between several providers.
Step 3
You’ll schedule and meet with your doctor for your initial consultation over a two-way video chat. The appointment lasts for about an hour and will allow you to get comfortable with your doctor and to develop a plan to monitor and manage your health.
Step 4
After your initial consult, you have access to your doctor anytime via call, text, or video chat. Your doctor knows who you are, so you never have to worry about re-telling your history to a new provider every time you have a question or concern.
How Much Does SteadyMD Cost and What Are The Options
There are two main options for enrolling in SteadyMD: Individual plan or family plan. Here’s a breakdown of each:
Individual Plan
This plan is for individuals who want to partner with a doctor who is invested in their care and that they have access to any time they wish.
$99 per month
- No additional fees or co-pays applicable
- Personalized attention from a hand-select doctor
- Comprehensive, 1-hour consultation
- Unlimited texting with your provider
- Same-day phone call and video chat options available
- Emphasis on preventative care
Family Plan
Comprehenisve, personalized care for the whole family, including children.
$178 per month
All the same benefits of the individual plan, but extended to cover everyone in the family
Functional Medicine Plan
SteadyMD now also offers a functional medicine plan that’s perfect for those who want to dive deeper into functional medicine, exploring more of their microbiome, hormones, micronutrients, and more.
My Experience
For the purpose of this review, I signed up for the individual plan. I was immediately sent to a questionnaire that went through all my medical history and current conditions in an in-depth fashion. I was encouraged to share as much detail as possible to get the best results possible.
Matching The Right Doctor
Once I was finished, I was matched with three different doctors in my home state. I reviewed each of their profiles and settled upon a female doctor who’s bio read that she was a momma of two, runner, and outdoor enthusiast, which felt right up my alley.
Initial Consultation
I was then prompted to schedule my initial consultation, with my earliest options being just a handful of days out from the date I was scheduling. Once scheduled, I received an email confirmation as well as directions on how to cancel or reschedule should I need to.
The Zoom Meeting
For the visit, all I needed to do was make sure that I had Zoom downloaded on my computer, which I already did. I showed up for the appointment about 5 minutes early and was greeted immediately by my doctor.
About My Doctor
My doctor was friendly, warm, and seemed to genuinely care about getting to know me and my medical history. We chatted for about 45 minutes.
Thankfully, I am a very healthy person with no medical issues, so I feel like my appointment was very smooth and probably a little quicker than others. I left the consult feeling great about partnering with the doctor I chose, knowing that I could choose to continue the partnership and have a doctor handy whenever I needed her.
FAQs
Q: Will I ever see my doctor in person?
A: Any contact you have with your SteadyMD doctor will be done through video chat, call, or text. Thanks to advanced technology, you can get the most accurate and chronic conditions treated completely online. Plus, with this service, there is no waiting or driving to an appointment, which saves you time and money.
If your doctor thinks that you need to be seen somewhere in person, they will refer you to a local specialist or urgent care provider. If you require lab work, you’ll be sent to a local testing facility that’s convenient for you.
Q: What’s my doctor’s availability?
A: Your doctor is always available to you. Each doctor checks and responds to text messages throughout their day. If you need a same-day visit, you can request either a phone call or a video chat appointment and your MD will fit you in that day.
Q: Can my doctor prescribe me medications and supplements?
A: Yes, of course! All of their doctors are fully licensed physicians who can prescribe a wide range of medications, the same medications that are available to you in a traditional office setting. They will also direct you to high-quality supplements, should you need them. The only things that they will not prescribe are opioids, narcotics, testosterone, and other controlled substances. If you require these, you will be put in contact with a specialist.
Q: What equipment do I need to access my appointments?
A: All you need is a computer or smartphone with internet access and a camera.
Q: Is my information safe on this platform?
A: Yes. The entire platform is HIPPA compliant to ensure that communication with your doctor remains private. Your information is stored on secured servers, and the company takes every precaution necessary to ensure the privacy and security of your personal data.
Q: What do I do in the event of an emergency?
A: Do not call your SteadyMD provider for an emergency, instead call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room for help. Later, let your doctor know so that he or she can help monitor your care.
The Overall Assessment: Final Thoughts
Overall, I am impressed with SteadyMD and their take on telehealth. I think their unique approach is refreshing in an already inundated space.
If you’re someone who wishes to have a close relationship with their medical provider but doesn’t feel they get the attention they deserve when visiting their in-person clinic, this service is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.
I never felt rushed or not heard when consulting with my doctor, only heard, understood, and supported. Moving forward, I am sure that my experience would be much of the same.
The biggest pitfall is the price, but it’s all in how you look at it. For less than $100 per month, you get access to a medical provider who knows you and your history inside and out, any time you want, which is incredibly beneficial in this rushed society we live in.