Telemedicine is one of the fastest growing trends in health care.

The ability for consumers to address medical issues telephonically with a physician is a huge savings in time and money for not only individuals and families, but also for employers. The concept is not new, but the acceptance factor over the past couple of years continues to increase dramatically as more and more people want to talk with a doctor without having to wait in an office or clinic for hours on end until the physician has time to see them.

Of all the problems with the U.S. health-care system, one of the most vexing for patients is simply sitting in the doctor's waiting room. Being ushered into the exam room, only to be left shivering in a paper gown, to wait some more, adds to the aggravation. It's the health-care equivalent of being stuck on the tarmac in a crowded plane, according to the Wall Street Journal.