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"I think it could be the future of some kinds of health care," Judith Maness, president of Mount St. Mary's Hospital, explained.

On Tuesday, Maness launched an online care program; a program that allows patients to visit with their doctors through a computer.

"They can log onto a computer at their workplace, at their home or at the kiosk and have access to a physicians visit,” Maness said.

Patients can choose from a list of available doctors accredited by the hospital and have the option of chatting through text, video or over the phone.

Dr. Philip Sauvageau said the program should only be used to discuss minor conditions.

"An upper respiratory infection, headaches, some chronic conditions like insomnia. What we've been doing with some of our patients is to do follow up visits,” Sauvageau explained.

Patients have the option of signing on from a home computer or from the kiosk here in the hospital's lobby. Sauvageau warned however, the program is not a substitute for the emergency room.

"Times when you would not want to obviously would be if there was an emergency, if you need to, go to the emergency room."

Most visits take less than 15 minutes and cost around $45.

Maness said the program will carry the traditional neighborhood hospital into the future.

"It's something that's very new, innovative and non-traditional."