Telemedicine – frequently asked questions and answers [EXPLAINED]

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Telemedicine is an increasingly popular form of contact between the patient and the doctor, which allows not only to save time, but also allows you to visit any place (in Poland and abroad). In addition, selected specialists are available much more often than is the case in an outpatient clinic where you have to wait in a long line, exposing yourself to bacterial and viral infections. In order to take advantage of the wide range of telemedicine, it is worth finding out what to do to feel safe during e-consultation with a doctor.

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine is health services provided with the use of ICT systems or communication systems, which supplement the health care services available so far. In other words, telemedicine is remote healthcare services, provided to patients by doctors and other medical professionals.

Therefore, telemedicine allows for remote prevention, diagnostics, patient care, prescribing medications, and thanks to modern technologies, also for health monitoring (e.g. telespirometry). Remotely, the patient will not only talk to the doctor, but also receive an e-prescription, e-leave or e-referral.

When are we talking about telemedicine?

Telemedicine uses digital solutions, giving patients the opportunity to use televisions (telephone consultations, chat, videoconferences) – medical telepaths in the field of primary health care and specialist telepaths. Therefore, we talk about telemedicine in a situation where the patient and the doctor communicate remotely in order to provide a medical service, but not only. Telemedicine also means telecare for the patient (e.g. remote ECG monitoring), telerehabilitation or remote imaging descriptions.

What problems does telemedicine address?

Telemedicine primarily fills the gaps that can be seen in traditional medicine, which became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when patients wanted to consult a doctor without leaving home or needed an e-prescription. In addition, telemedicine is also useful in monitoring the patient’s health (e.g. in the prevention of breast cancer). It can be used not only as part of the purchased medical package, but also during private consultations or online medical advice from the National Health Fund.

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Why is telemedicine gaining popularity?

Telemedicine is gaining popularity because by using modern technology, it facilitates contact between the patient and the doctor. It turns out to be particularly useful for specific social groups (parents of children under 18 or people living in cities), although it is used universally. This is especially facilitated by the emergence of an increasing number of e-branches offering services at the highest level.

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When is it worth deciding on telemedicine advice?

It is worth deciding on telemedicine advice when we need a quick consultation with a doctor, and we cannot afford to appear at the clinic (e.g. when we are abroad). E-visit is also a good solution when we want to consult the results we received from the laboratory with a specialist.

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When is it not worth deciding to watch TV?

Television does not always fully meet the patient’s needs. This mainly applies to situations where the doctor is unable to make a diagnosis without meeting the patient in person. If the patient’s health problem requires a physical examination and careful visual assessment by a doctor, it is better to visit the office directly. This applies to cases such as vision problems, toothache, earache, as well as bone and joint pains (e.g. after injuries). It is also not worth using the TV if the patient’s condition is serious (e.g. very severe pain, loss of consciousness, heart attack, urinary retention) – in such situations, you should visit the HED as soon as possible.

How do I find an e-visit doctor?

It is best to find a doctor offering e-visits on the website of the selected medical facility or use the offer of one of the e-shops offering the possibility of contacting a specialist throughout the country. You can also call the clinic and ask if the doctor is on-line.

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Is a phone call with a doctor telemedicine?

Yes, a phone call with a doctor is one of the services offered by telemedicine. However, contacting a doctor by phone is one of the available forms of teleportation. Other possible ways of contacting a doctor as part of telemedicine are via e-mail, chats and audiovisual messaging.

Can a senior use a TV viewing?

The senior can use the television. The telemedicine care system has been constructed in such a way as to facilitate access to services for the elderly. For this reason, the registration path includes three simple steps: making an appointment, paying for the visit, and participating in a chat, phone call or videoconsultation with a doctor. If a senior cannot (e.g. due to technical reasons) or cannot (e.g. is partially paralyzed) arrange an e-visit, he or she may ask a loved one for help. Such a person can accompany the patient during a television visit.

Can a child benefit from TV viewing?

The child can use the TV under the supervision of an adult. As in the case of a traditional visit, in addition to questions to the child, a request may be made to the guardian to outline the minor patient’s disease situation.

Is a referral necessary to arrange an e-visit with a specialist?

A referral is not needed when choosing a paid visit to a specialist. It may turn out to be necessary during consultations with the National Health Fund.

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What software and hardware are necessary to take advantage of the e-visit?

The necessary equipment to take advantage of the e-visit is a telephone or a computer with Internet access. If a given facility offers the possibility of using one of the options (phone call with a doctor, videoconference or chat), the patient chooses the service that is most beneficial for him.

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How to prepare for a telemedicine visit?

In order to prepare for a telemedicine visit, first of all, it is necessary to check whether the equipment for communication with the doctor is functional. In this case, it is worth making sure that the internet is working (if you have chosen video calling). In addition, it is worth preparing a place where we will conduct a conversation so that no one disturbs us. You can write down all the problems you want to talk to a specialist about on a piece of paper.

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Will telemedicine help with any health problem?

Telemedicine allows for faster consultation with a doctor and reduces the risk associated with visits to the clinic (e.g. infections), but not every health problem can be solved thanks to it. If the doctor decides that the full assessment of the patient’s condition is not possible remotely, he may recommend a traditional consultation. Examples of such situations include the need to undergo a physical examination or a complete gynecological examination. Telemedicine is also not a solution in the event of emergencies (e.g. a heart attack), when immediate medical attention is needed.

How do you pay for telemedicine advice and how much do they cost?

In the case of private telemedicine advice, payment is made on the website of the medical facility at the stage of making an appointment. If we are unable to do this, we may ask for help from a family member or call the facility. The consultant should guide the patient through all stages of making an e-visit. The cost of telemedicine advice depends on the agreed price list of the provider we choose.

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Can I make an e-visit to a doctor outside my city or province?

Due to the use of new technologies, you can make an e-visit to the doctor from outside your city or province. It is also possible to use teleportation from another country.

What does a telemedicine consultation look like?

Telemedicine consultation, apart from using a different medium, does not differ from a traditional visit. Initially, the doctor may ask the patient for data that will help to correctly verify their identity. The patient then describes the problem in detail. The doctor may ask about some variables. After analyzing the data, he can refer the patient for tests or issue an e-prescription.

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What forms can telemedicine advice take?

Telemedicine advice can take three basic forms:

1. Telephone conversation with the doctor,
2. Chat with a doctor
3. Video calls with the doctor.

Moreover, if the patient has one question for the doctor, he may also take advantage of this possibility.

Is telemedicine just a phone call with a doctor?

Telemedicine allows you to contact a doctor by phone, but it is not the only form that a patient can use. In addition to talking on the phone, you can choose to chat with the doctor or video consultation during which the doctor sees the patient. People who have disturbing skin changes more often decide to talk using the camera.

Can I talk to my doctor on video during a telemedicine visit?

During a telemedicine visit, you can talk to your doctor on video. It is one of the most frequently chosen forms of contact by patients, which facilitates diagnosis by a specialist and a thorough examination of the lesions.

What does a physical examination look like during an e-visit?

Although a complete physical examination can only be performed during a face-to-face meeting between the doctor and the patient, some elements can be checked during an e-visit (teleconsultation with a neurologist or dermatologist).

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Can the doctor examine the patient during a telemedicine visit?

During a telemedicine visit, the doctor cannot physically examine the patient, but using the appropriate tools, the patient can provide the specialist with the most important information. The most frequently needed devices include:

1. pressure gauge,
2. glucometer,
3. thermometer,
4. scales with body weight analysis,
5. electronic stethoscope,
6. spirometr,
7. dermatoscope,
8. moblins EKG recorder,
9. device for X-ray examination.

How to provide the doctor with test results during a telemedicine visit?

During a telemedicine visit, you can provide the doctor with test results electronically. This is the easiest way. Another is to discuss the results verbally with your doctor during the videoconsultation.

What information should I prepare in advance of a TV viewing?

Information that should be prepared in advance of a viewer is:

1. current test results (e.g. morphology),
2. medical records (very important for patients with chronic diseases),
3. list of currently taken medications, including supplements.

Before the first TV visit, which may cause stress for the patient, it is worth writing down questions about your health condition on a piece of paper or in a notebook. This way we will be sure that we have not forgotten anything.

What referrals can I get during a television visit?

During the TV visit, you can get a referral for imaging or laboratory tests. Before the doctor issues an e-referral, he / she will carefully assess the patient’s state of health. If the telemedicine consultation turns out to be insufficient, the doctor may ask the patient to visit the office.

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How does issuing an e-prescription look like during a TV visit?

During the TV visit, the doctor can issue an e-prescription to the patient, which can be dispensed in any pharmacy throughout the country. The electronic prescription will be issued in the form of a pdf file, which the patient will receive to the indicated e-mail address or in the form of an SMS message with a 4-digit code.

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What drugs can an e-prescription be issued for?

The e-prescription issued by the doctor during the TV visit includes:

1. RP drugs (dispensed with a doctor’s prescription),
2. RPW drugs (prescribed by a doctor and may contain narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs),
3. Prescription drugs (prepared according to a prescription in a pharmacy from single pharmaceutical raw materials).

What does issuing an exemption look like during an e-visit?

During the e-visit, the physician may issue the patient with an e-certificate if the medical justification is sufficient to issue an electronic document. Based on the data collected during the interview, the doctor will assess whether the patient needs a time off.

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What to do if the e-visit is not the fault of the doctor?

If the e-visit is not the fault of the doctor who did not call at the agreed time, the patient should contact the medical facility. The consultant may propose a different date of visit, e-consultation with another specialist or a refund for a missed visit.

Online medical advice at the National Health Fund. Where to call to consult a doctor?

To take advantage of online medical advice at the National Health Fund, you should call the clinic where the patient is registered so that you can make an e-appointment with the doctor.

1. Find out more: Online medical advice at the National Health Fund. Where to call to consult a doctor?

Is my data transmitted during the TV visit safe?

The data transmitted during the TV visit is safe because the doctor is covered by medical confidentiality. However, it is worth remembering to choose proven telemedicine clinics or facilities recommended by people who have already used the services of a given company.

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.