Video consultations: 5 questions you must ask yourself as a healthcare professional

Is video consultation the right thing for my healthcare profession? With the rise in popularity of this new solution, it’s time to think about it. But don’t panic! To give you a clearer picture, we’ve prepared a few simple questions you can ask yourself:

Video consultations: questions you must ask yourself as a healthcare professional

Today, many specialties can benefit from video consultation. With its numerous advantages, it is suitable for multible situations. Is a video consultation right for you? Let’s find out with these three questions

Video consultations for face-to-face treatments?

In theory, all healthcare professionals can offer video consultations. However, some specialties will benefit more from this new way of treating patients, for example general practitioners or psychologists.

The first question to ask is whether physical contact is required. Is it necessary to be in the practice? Or can the consultation be carried out remotely? If your patients need to be touched or handled during the consultation, telemedicine is clearly not the answer. On the other hand, for quick check-ups, prescriptions, regular follow-ups or even debriefing analyses, video consultation can be the perfect choice! For example, it can be used to diagnose the flu, give medical advice, provide nutritional advice or confirm certain diagnoses.

What equipment do I need for a video consultation?

A question definitely worth asking! Unless you’re a telepath, you’ll need a device with a camera and a good Internet connection for video consultation. Fortunately, most modern devices meet these requirements. All you have to do is visit the telemedicine website or application, and you’re ready to go!

Does video consultation simplify patient access to care?

One of the main aims of video consultations is to simplify access to care for your patients. It can be used for health problems such as chronic illnesses, or more occasional symptoms, avoiding repeated visits for follow-up consultations. Sometimes, being able to consult from home is a real need for the patient (and not just because he or she wants to stay at home in their pyjamas!). After all, unexpected things can happen. In the same way, certain health problems may justify the patient staying at home.

Is data transmitted securely during video consultations?

Whatever video consultation system you use, it’s vital to ensure that the medical data you exchange with your patient is secure from end to end. Medical data is sensitive and therefore governed by data protection laws. The Swiss Medical Association (FMH) has expressed reservations about some American solutions, such as Google, Skype, WhatsApp and Zoom. That’s why we advise you to opt for a solution that encrypts data end-to-end (like OneDoc 😉 ).

I am … is video consultation for me?

Here are a few OneDoc specialties that are actively using video consultation. Maybe your colleagues are already using it!