Unlike the traditional face-to-face consultations that we’ve always been used to, online consultations, for the most part, are pretty much the same.
The only difference is their setup. Online consultations are done remotely with you and a healthcare professional (most commonly your doctor) not having to be in the same room.
Instead, they are done through digital communication technologies, such as video conferencing, messaging platforms, or even phone calls. In this way, patients can get professional medical advice or treatment without having the need to leave the comfort of your own home, which in turn, saves a lot of time and money, and allows patients to rest comfortably in their homes and not expose others.
How Online Consultations Can Save Time
Have you ever been in a situation where you’re running late to an appointment and all you can do is wait for the heavy traffic to subside? With online consultations, you won’t have to go through that and all time-consuming things associated with it. Below is a list of how online consultations can save time.
Eliminate Unnecessary Travel. We all know for a fact that not all wounds or any minor injuries don’t necessarily need to be checked by a doctor physically. In cases such as these, you may opt to get medical treatment online, eliminating unnecessary travel to a health facility, especially if you live far away.
Faster Scheduling Process. As if traveling isn’t time-consuming enough, waiting in line can also be one of the most exhausting things to do, especially if you are already sick. On top of that, in a traditional healthcare setting, scheduling conflicts and emergencies can delay the scheduling process. With online consultations, a few clicks here and there can get you scheduled in no time at all.
Quicker Access to Appointments. Online consultations allow healthcare professionals to communicate with patients more efficiently. With instant messaging, video conferencing, and email, healthcare professionals can respond to your queries quickly and provide timely medical advice. This can save your time and reduce the need for multiple appointments. This is particularly beneficial for those who have busy schedules and find it difficult to take the time off to attend appointments.
How Online Consultations Can Save Money
With so many bills to pay and responsibilities to attend to, a lot of Filipinos can’t afford to get sick and see a doctor everytime something happens. On top of the medical bills, it would cost extra just to have an appointment. Here’s how online consultations can save you money.
Lower Treatment Prices For Patients. Online consultations can reduce overhead costs, such as building rent, equipment costs, and staff salaries. Consequently, this cost reduction can be passed on to patients in the form of lower treatment prices.
Increased Efficiency of Services. Online consultations can increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery by reducing the time it takes to provide medical care. This can reduce the workload on healthcare professionals, allowing them to see more patients and provide better care.
Reduced Cost of Healthcare Services. Online consultations can be more cost-effective than traditional healthcare services. For example, telemedicine can be used to manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, which can reduce the need for frequent in-person appointments and hospitalizations, leading to significant cost savings.
In general, online consultations can save you valuable time and money. In hindsight, even healthcare providers benefit from this as well because they spend less resources except for their devices and the internet. Thanks to online consultations, you don’t have to go through the hassle of spending extra time traveling and waiting in line for an appointment.
To take advantage of those benefits, here’s a short list of recommendations that you can do to get the most out of online consultations:
Check with your healthcare provider.
Teleconsultation is especially useful in situations where it may not be convenient or safe to visit a healthcare facility, such as during a pandemic, or simply because you are located in a remote area with limited access to medical care. However, not all healthcare facilities offer such service. With the technological advancements we have now, many healthcare providers offer online consultations as an alternative to in-person visits.
Even though many healthcare providers offer a variety of services depending on the medical care that patients need and what is available for them to provide, teleconsultation, as developing as it is, may not be one of them. That is why checking with your healthcare provider to see if they offer such service can help you stay informed and all in all help ensure that you receive safe and effective medical care.
Prepare for your online consultation.
Online consultations may take a couple of minutes or in some cases may reach an hour or more to finish, depending on the patient’s medical needs and the processes needed to undergo. So, for the consultation to go as smoothly and efficiently as possible, being prepared beforehand is a good way to start.
Before your consultation, it is recommended to prepare a list of questions and concerns you want to discuss with your healthcare provider. This can help to make your consultation more efficient and effective.
Have a stable internet connection and a compatible device.
While online consultations provide the greatest of benefits, it also comes with a little bit of preparation in the technical department. Since these consultations are done virtually, a stable internet connection along with compatible devices is necessary for it to go as smoothly as possible.
To have a successful consultation, make sure your internet connection is up and running, but more importantly, reliable. Other things that also need to be prepared beforehand, is a compatible device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Make sure your device is charged, and you come prepared in case of technical difficulties.
In this digital age, it can be safely said that online consultations are indeed revolutionizing healthcare. Through technology, we can easily communicate needs online with medical experts and get advice and care we need, and with comfort and convenience too. So, if you’re looking for an efficient and reliable healthcare partner, visit E-Konsulta now!