Tennessee residents can now visit a doctor by telephone for relief from minor ailments.

A service called Apogee Doctor on Call charges $50 per contact for physician consultations. The Tennessean reported Arizona-based Apogee Physicians said Tennessee is the pilot state for its remote program, partly because the company already provides staffing at a dozen hospitals around the state.

The queries are answered around the clock, seven days a week. Doctors cannot prescribe narcotics, but can message pharmacies for routine prescriptions, such as antibiotics.

Some medical professionals have concerns about the idea.

Dr. Mohamad Sidani, a professor with Meharry Medical College, said body language is very important in diagnosing an illness and he want to see patients face to face.

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