Perspectives and future applications of video consultations – An interview with Katja Berlinger

“Teleconsultation has great potential and could be used for a wide range of treatments”. When we went to interview Katja Berlinger, CEO of Swiss Medi Kids, her answer left little doubt about the prospects for video consultations in the future.

At OneDoc, too, we agree: video consultations are increasingly popular with patients and healthcare staff alike. Everyone wants a more flexible way of making appointments. A solution that allows them to remain mobile while saving time.

The switch to teleconsultation, a winning move for Swiss Medi Kids

Swiss Medi Kids paediatric duty centre was set up in 2011 to relieve the pressure on Zurich paediatric hospital. Today, it manages facilities in Zurich, Winterthur and Lucerne and is committed to maintaining high-quality paediatric services in Switzerland. To this end, Swiss Medi Kids has decided to integrate digital tools into its offering to improve the care of its young patients. We had the chance to interview Katja Berlinger, CEO of Swiss Medi Kids, to find out more.

How did you learn about the video consultation?

We have been partners with OneDoc since the COVID-19 pandemic and were directly informed by you about this feature.

In what situations does Swiss Medi Kids use video consultations?

We already offered both video and telephone consultations. When we have sufficient staff, we open additional slots for video consultations. However, we generally find that telephone inquiries are still the most common for now.

What types of appointments are conducted via video consultations?

All types of appointments, regardless of the patient’s issue, can be handled through video consultations. We notice that this service is particularly popular among international families or expats in Switzerland, who seem more familiar and comfortable with telemedicine solutions.

What is one of the greatest strengths of video consultations?

Video consultations provide us with much more information compared to phone consultations: seeing the patient makes our job easier. Anomalies can be seen. We also gain insights into the family situation, parent-child interaction, see if there is any maternal exhaustion, etc. Additionally, video consultations give us the ability to effectively treat very simple cases that would otherwise saturate clinics. Finally it is also useful to reassure parents.

What do patients think of this service?

Parents who use the video consultation service seem to be very enthusiastic. They feel more seen and heard and appreciate the simplicity of the medical consultation.

Where do you see further prospects for remote consultations?

We believe that video consultations have great potential and could be effectively used for many health conditions. We see a clinical advantage over telephone consultations. Additionally, we find that video consultations offer a safe way to avoid physical doctor visits. However, the challenge remains to encourage more parents to use this service.