Physicians in every state, except Nevada, have begun offering "online  consultations", which in some cases, can take the place of a trip to Doc's office. They're using the Internet to treat problems ranging from sore throats to high cholesterol -- usually at a price of about $30 per session. However, some companies like Fastrx.com offer the same service for free. Doctors are also refilling prescriptions, sharing health tips and answering patients' routine questions online. "Online Consultations gives patients efficient, convenient access to doctors, without the hassles of sitting in a waiting room or exchanging missed telephone calls, said Ericka Boussarhane, manager of A Express Medical Group. We all have heard horror stories about Emergency room waits. Unfortunately, many of our local physicians are so busy that their patients cannot get in the same day. ," she said. "If a patient can stay at work and is able to just go online and tell their symptoms for, let's say, a sinus infection, then FastRx.com is able to take care of that over the Internet." Here's how the consultations usually work: Physicians who sign on with a service provider invite patients to use the Internet for online doctor visits. Patients are assigned a user ID to ensure that their information will be kept private. At the start of each consultation, patients must provide credit card information and most agree to pay the doctor's fee. Then they fill out a questionnaire, detailing their symptoms and other relevant information. After reviewing the form, the physician responds with written treatment instructions, which may include a prescription for medication. Of course, many patients' ailments still require an office visit. And some doctors worry about handling even seemingly minor ailments via the Internet.  "How can you treat somebody without examining them?" Scott Zimmerman said,"You really have to know your limitations of what you can and can't provide in that forum." Ericka Boussarhane, manager for FastRx.com, a 24 hour Online Pharmacy, said "There are clearly some conditions that you have to see the doctor. We only offer online medications for those conditions, which are appropriate to be handled without a physical examination. We also offer discreet resources for impotence and weight loss medications without embarrassment. " Beyond online consultations, Boussarhane said, the Internet allows physicians and their staffs to perform everyday tasks quickly and cheaply. Boussarhane estimates that 80 percent of phone calls to doctors' offices are from patients seeking to schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, or obtain lab results -- all tasks that can be performed more efficiently online, she said. "I don't want to have to go sit in a doctor's office and wait around," he said. "I'm pretty comfortable with it [online treatment], as long as it's something they really don't need to see me in person for, replies" Marcia Blackmon "One hurdle to more widespread usage of Internet doctor visits is the price charged to patients, Boussarhane said. In most cases, patients have to pay online doctor's fees themselves. Our office, A Express Medical Group, offers free online doctor consultations. Our Doctor writes the patient a prescription and we have our own pharmacies that fill their scripts. The patient does not even have to leave their home, because we ship the prescription to their doorstep. Now this is convenience." Many health plans look to online visits as a potential cost-cutting measure. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, for example, last month began paying for online communication between members of its health maintenance organization and their physicians. With new users growing by the hour, cyber medicine will truly be a new wave of the medical future.