Telemedicine – The new ‘normal’ in doctor-patient interaction

Since March 2020, India has been engulfed in battling Covid-19. The constant lockdowns posed a huge challenge to sustain activities that were essential for survival. Medical services were also severely hit. It became imperative to employ a new way of interaction that could conform with the limitation of the pandemic.

Telemedicine proved to be the most optimal solution towards tackling this adversity. It involved the use of video-conferencing platforms like WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Zoom. Apps like Practo and 1mg have been promoting telemedicine by connecting healthcare professionals and patients through their in-app features. The sprawling connectivity that has been achieved through affordable Internet paired with a triad of online consulting platforms, digital payments, and doorstep delivery of medications, has given birth to a new ecosystem; one that makes it easier for patients to seek medical management. Routine check-ups and follow-ups can be done online which helps both the facilities (more resources can be directed towards patients requiring urgent care) and patients (safer at homes). But a question does arise “Is this temporary and does it have the potential to become a new approach towards health?” To discuss this, let us assess the pros and cons of telemedicine. A few arguments are listed below:-

Pros of Telemedicine

1. 1) Cost-effective– Traveling costs to the health care facility are spared.
2. 2) Time effective– Traveling time and waiting period inside the health care facility are eliminated through this mode of communication.
3. 3) Safer– Patients can be in their houses and can prevent themselves from contact with other patients both Covid-19 or non-Covid19 communicable diseases.
4. 4)Environment of interaction – Patients can comfortably interact with their respective physicians in the warmth of their own homes. There are no shortcomings in terms of interaction plus confidentiality is preserved.
5. 5) A Middle-Ground option – In case the patient cannot or does not wish to go the full length and visit a health care facility, telemedicine benefits the patient greatly. If an in-person visit is warranted, the physician can plan for one or vice-versa.

Cons of Telemedicine

1. 1)Physical examination and personal touch are compromised.
2. 2)Lack of internet access makes it difficult for patients to utilize this mode of communication
3. 3)Technical issues and bugs arising on the platforms and apps
4. 4)Technical ignorance amongst the older generation of patients

It is clear, there are a lot of advantages of telemedicine with no bias towards either doctors or patients. The shortcomings listed can be approximated to a small population mostly rural (due to poor internet access) or amongst the older population (technical difficulties). Telemedicine can prove to be an efficient amendment for consultations if we’re able to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings.

What do you think? Do share your views or suggestions.

Note:-

The Medical Council of India in collaboration with NITI Aayog under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare legalized the use of telemedicine and prescribed guidelines to promote this form of consultations in a circular dated 25^th March 2020.

Link- https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Telemedicine.pdf

Tips for Efficient Online Consultations

Here are some of the ways an online consultation can be made more efficient:-

1. 1)Being punctual gives the physician more time to discuss elaborately without having to rush through the consult.
2. 2)Send all reports 15 minutes prior to the appointment.
3. 3)Scanning documents in a .pdf or .jpg format is preferred over regular images and photos. This can be done via multiple apps on your phone – CamScanner, Adobe Scan, SwiftScan, etc.
4. 4)Highlight important information on reports for more precise discussions and reading.
5. 5)Title your reports using generic terms. For example, title the USG Abdo-pelvis as usg_abdo_patientname_date.pdf. It saves time. Here is how you can add or edit the title – On WhatsApp, right swipe, enter a suitable title, and then send. On Zoom (Appropriate title while saving and attaching file). This is much more efficient as the physician can have a quick look at the reports and spend more time discussing. Also, the patient can have an aimed discussion. Avoid sharing your reports directly by pointing to your camera.
6. 6)Listing of queries before consultations so that all doubts are resolved. Not only does this make the discussion more fruitful and precise, but it also ensures you do not miss out on discussing any query.