Louisiana, like many parts of the country, is facing a shortage of primary care physicians. East Jefferson General Hospital is looking to tackle this problem and has tapped Teladoc to offer telehealth services to New Orleans-area residents. As a result, Teladoc’s on-demand health care services will be available to more local residents via smartphone, mobile app and/or secure online video. The relationship is said to help cements East Jefferson General Hospital’s position as a leading health care system in southeastern Louisiana.

“We chose Teladoc for several reasons, but one being its customizable telehealth solution. It allows us to leverage their custom platform and create the best plan to manage more health issues remotely and address the needs of our community today,” East Jefferson General Hospital CEO Mark Peters, M.D. said in a statement. “Looking ahead, it also provides us with the ability to evolve and scale over time, as demand for increased access to care continues to rise.”

Teladoc’s state-licensed, board-certified physicians provide 24/7 assistance for non-emergent health issues. In order to use it, local residents can register online by selecting the E-Doc button at www.EJGH.org and they are good to go.

According to Alan Roga, M.D. and Teladoc senior vice president and general manager of the provider market, the relationship with East Jefferson General Hospital represents an important new access point for its services and a new way in which patients can access care when they need it most. The company has hit its 1 millionth telehealth visit in October of last year.