What are your thoughts on doctor-on-demand companies (e.g. DoctorOnDemand, HealthTap, MDLive, Teladoc)?
That being said, I see a lot of similarities between a doctor and a home service professional. That is to say, if I find a doctor that I like and trust, I want to go back to that doctor each and every time I have the same ailment -- there is no real upside going back to the well to find a new doctor on the On Demand platforms for the same issue I was having before. Thus once I use DoctorOnDemand for that first time, find that doctor I like, I'm going to move off platform and the next time I need that doctor I will reach out to him/her directly.
Doctors will push for this too to avoid the platform fees and to be able to foster a more direct/warm relationship with the client. (Even though doctors do good, they still have a business to run)
However the uniqueness to the medical field is for many use-cases you only need to see a specialist once. Once I see that specialist, get my health problem resolved, then that's it - relationship over and I'm all fixed up. So I'm sure those On Demand medical platforms benefit from repeat clients needing to find different specialists multiple times throughout their lives.