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A trip to the doctor’s office could be as easy as a walk to your computer if legislators take up digital medicine.  As Matt Galka tells us, the push for “telehealth” is on.

Crowded emergency rooms would be a thing of the past if some powerful Florida policy groups get their wish. A telehealth push is happening ahead of 2015’s legislative session.  Florida TaxWatch says the digital medicine can save lives and dollars.

“If we reduce ER wait times by just a fraction, we’re talking billions,” said Robert Weissert with TaxWatch.

The group says besides the bottom line, the technology could be paying off in human capital as well.

“If someone avoids the emergency department, it’s not just that we didn’t pay money for the emergency care, it’s that they didn’t have to go to the emergency department. Which means they have a better quality of living, which means they’re healthier and they’re being more productive,” said Weissert.

The Florida Chamber is also on board.  They say telemedicine can help in the battle between a growing number of patients and shrinking number of doctors.

“In Florida by 2030 we’re going to have 6 million more people in the state. We have an aging physician workforce as well as a growing gap of healthcare professionals, and we think that telemedicine can help bridge that gap,” said David Christian, the Chamber’s V.P. of Governmental Affairs.

Supporters say that a face to face video conference between a doctor and a patient would be great. But one road block has always been who would be giving out the advice.

A number of issues will need to be ironed out to put a law into place.  The Florida Medical Association maintains anyone practicing telemedicine should be licensed in Florida. Telehealth bills were proposed in this past year’s legislative session but both died in the final days after the House and Senate couldn’t agree on the issue.