[commandar]

>I would easily throw $50 at a 10 minute consult with a doctor instead of having to make an appointment and haul myself in to the local clinic.

I remember hearing an NPR report recently about some doctors running their private practice similar to that. They were basically operating on a subscription model - they would come see you if needed, but for quick consults and the like, they'd do things like Skype calls to talk with their patients. Struck me as a very interesting idea.

EDIT:

This isn't the report I'm thinking of, but it's very similar:

http://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-virtual-urgent-care-the-...

This is for urgent care, but as I said above, I've heard similar reports about private practices working this way.