Flu numbers continue to rise across the state, and it appears more and more patients are skipping the wait at the doctor's office and turning to their smartphones when it comes to their health.

LiveHealth Online is a telemedicine service that started in 2013. Dr. Mia Finkelston says people use it for convenience and to avoid germs. A spokesperson for the company says they are seeing the highest percentage of flu diagnosis in company history.

Dr. Finkelston said during a six-hour shift Thursday, she saw about three to four patients an hour, and she says about 50 percent of those had the flu or thought they had the flu with compelling symptoms.

During a LiveHealth visit, doctors take a history of a patient, ask questions and then go through an exam.

"Based on how they look and their history I decide, 'OK, am I comfortable treating them?' " Finkelston said. "Usually, we do have antivirals that can help shorten the duration of the flu that we can give most people and go over the side effects and how to take them, or is it someone who needs to be seen in person?"

The number of confirmed flu cases this season in Onondaga County passed the 1,000 mark last week. In Broome County, that number is around 360.