Telemedicine is no longer a fashion, but a way to improve the operation of health care. As part of one of the projects, a telemedical booth was created, in which it will be possible to arrange a doctor’s appointment and even perform a simple test, such as an ECG. Poczta Polska is considering the implementation of the project in its branches.
The eGabinety project was by definition a solution dedicated to offices or pharmacies. At the beginning of August, Poczta Polska presented projects and mockups of nine startups. One of them is Telemedicin, i.e. booths in the form of e-offices, enabling remote consultations with a doctor. During such an eVisit, you can perform basic tests, such as ECG or blood pressure measurement. The first booths are already being tested in selected post offices. The testing phase ends in the fall and then the authorities of Poczta Polska will make decisions about the possible implementation of the project.
The possibility of quick consultation is not only convenient, but above all it saves time. The report “Population time budget” prepared by the Central Statistical Office shows that an adult Pole spends almost an hour every day on shopping and the so-called “Running errands”. It takes another hour to get to the point where something needs to be done. Setting up telemedicine booths in Poczta Polska facilities will allow you to kill two birds with one stone.
Although the goal seems noble, the idea of Poczta Polska does not quite like doctors. In their opinion, such a study “on the occasion” of a visit to the post office and an accidental contact with a doctor will not change much in the health care model. For telemedicine to perform its task and function as it should, it is necessary to integrate remote services into the entire patient care system, with access to medical records and continuity of treatment. Such isolated, haphazard advice at the post office will not do that. According to doctors, a much better result would be an online meeting of the patient and the doctor, either from home or from the pharmacy. The protection of personal data also raises doubts.
Interestingly, Poczta Polska announces that this is not the end of its activities in this area. As the spokesman emphasized in the information sent to the editorial office, the company wants to combine the potential of startups with the infrastructure and experience it has.