However, this has become a common and preferred practice during the coronavirus crisis wherein people want to avoid doctor visits as much as possible. Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc. are the most probable places to catch an infection. And something as contagious and dreaded as Covid-19 is all the more cause for concern when considering making a visit to the doctor. But diseases cannot wait for Covid-19 to either become less fatal or disappear from the face of the earth altogether.
Tele-consultation with a doctor is a viable alternative to making a visit or worse totally skipping consultation. Tele-consultation is the process of consulting a doctor or any healthcare professional, either in real-time or delayed-time, using information and communication technology like phone call, video call, chat, email etc. In cases where examination of the patient is not crucial for diagnosis, tele-consultation works well for both the medical professional as well as the patient. However, in case of more serious illnesses where the doctor needs to use his/her four senses – vision, touch, sound and smell to make a correct diagnosis, a tele-consultation can fall short, and a visit might be unavoidable. Even in such case, several visits can be avoided, using tele-consultation for times when a conversational and visual lead or follow-up with the doctor can suffice.
Tele-consultation being a fairly new practice in India, we have listed a few points that can come in handy when planning to take a medical tele-consultation:
1. A real-time tele-consultation appointment can be a phone call, a video call or a live chat. On the other hand, a delayed response mechanism could be an offline chat, WhatsApp message, SMS or even email. The doctor’s availability, fees and response time varies as per the option availed. The option should be carefully chosen considering the nature and severity of the illness.
2. There are various ways to take a tele-consultation appointment. There are several aggregate websites that have doctors and healthcare professionals from all over India registered with them. You can visit these websites or download their app, select from the range of specialists available depending on their fees, experience, patient reviews etc.; make an online payment and select a suitable time from the appointment slots available. Several big hospitals have developed their own mobile apps to enable tele-consultation with doctors on their panel. Freelance practitioners can be either connected directly or through an aggregate or hospital specific app or website where they might be registered.
3. If you have a Health Plan with OPD cover, you can make a claim for your tele-consultation expenses. However, you need to check with your insurance provider whether your policy includes OPD cover as this is usually an optional add-on benefit with most health plans.
4. It is advisable to make necessary preparations before a tele-consultation. Make a list of concerns and symptoms of the disease regarding which you are taking consultation. Note down medications that you might be taking for any pre-existing conditions. Keep medical devices to check temperature, blood pressure, sugar levels, pulse, oxygen saturation level etc. handy, as may be required, to help the doctor with on-the-spot readings. Also, have a list of questions ready so that you do not miss out on any query during the call cause once the call ends, it might not be possible to immediately connect with the doctor again.
5. After the consultation, it is advisable to make notes and mail the same to the doctor too in case he/she has not been able to note all necessary details provided. Also ensure that you get a formal prescription from the doctor which would be required to order medicines online.
6. Ensure you have a good network connection when taking a real-time consultation. In case of video consultation, it is ideal to have good internet speed as well as a high resolution camera for the doctor to be able to take a good look at physical symptoms, if any.
In these Covid times, opt for tele-consultation with doctors as much as possible to keep yourself as well as healthcare professionals safe. Our doctors are overburdened in the current crisis and hence appreciate their time when taking consultation. Do not unnecessarily stretch the call with the mindset that ‘I have paid for this consultation and so I am privileged to take as much time as I like’. Use WhatsApp or SMS service for queries that are not urgent. This will give the doctor the much-needed flexibility to send a reply when possible. As the doctors are working to best of their capability and capacity, it is also essential for us to be responsible citizens and support them wherever possible.
