These days, you can ship a casserole across the country without leaving your couch. So why is it so hard to get a fast, reliable answer to a health question?

Kiss the waiting room goodbye with Sherpaa, a new digital healthcare service that lets you chat with doctors via phone, email or text message.

The company was started by former HR exec for Nike, and a Johns Hopkins-trained doctor who got the idea back in 2007, while treating uninsured freelancers over Instant Messenger.

For $30 a month, you get 24/7 access to Sherpaa’s network of primary-care physicians and specialists, an insurance card you can use at any pharmacy, and a designated, board certified medic to contact whenever you want. Have a chronic cough? Send your medic a picture and answer a few q’s (Do you have any allergies? A sore throat?). They’ll advise whether you should go to the ER, see a specialist, or just stay home. The team can also write prescriptions and help you navigate confusing medical bills.

Sherpaa is only offered through companies (i.e. individuals can’t sign up), but it’s easy to make the case to your boss for getting on board: Lots of businesses purchase insurance plans that make them pay for things employees don’t use (like unnecessary visits to doctors’ offices and emergency rooms). By cutting to the chase virtually, Sherpaa has been reported to save businesses up to $4,000 a year per employee. It’s no wonder big tech players like Tumblr and Meetup are on board.

Finally, the house call has entered the 21^st century.

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