This idea has promise but needs limitation...the phone/email/text system lacks the information available to the doctor's senses (touch, hearing, smell, and vision) when in direct contact with a patient and a doctor shouldn't be penalized when he/she takes the time for that contact.  Still, living in a place that mandates risking my life on an air-plane to seek specialty care or even a 40 mile round trip for a general care office visit, it would be really nice if my providers would permit me to discuss my problems with them by phone or email before I get in the car or air-plane.  If they still feel the need to see me in person, fine.  Expansion of the "nurse line" feature used by many insurers might be a good intermediate step.