how medicine adapts to deconfinement?

August 06, 2021

Earlier than the Covid-19 well being disaster, teleconsultation was identified, however it remained a considerably marginal different. Nonetheless, throughout the confinement, the session of a physician on-line has gained floor and it’s now offered as an efficient different to face-to-face consultations. And now ? How can apply adapt to modifications in well being measures? Discover out on this article.

Teleconsultation: what’s it precisely?

Teleconsultation designates a medical apply that enables medical professionals to carry out a distant session by means of info and communication applied sciences. On the pc, by videoconference on the pill or on the telephone, the physician and his affected person use the digital camera, the microphone and an web connection to speak verbally and in full security. Consulting a physician on-line additionally permits you to receive the recommendation of a well being skilled, immediately and with out having to journey. Notably used throughout confinement, teleconsultation appeals to sufferers and practitioners who’re on the lookout for effectivity and practicality.

It is a reality: there shall be a earlier than and one after Covid-19. Habits have been modified with a view to curb the unfold of the virus and the French have proven adaptability, even of their method of accessing healthcare. Teleconsultation has emerged as an important resolution to guard probably the most weak and relieve well being providers. Adopted by each medical doctors and sufferers, teleconsultation was very profitable throughout confinement. With practically 1,000,000 acts recorded every week, teleconsultation broke its file in April, whereas 67 million French individuals had been pressured to stay confined. Well being Insurance coverage specifies that “throughout the second week of April, the variety of distant consultations reached a peak of 1,118,175 acts“.

A hit that continues after confinement

Based on information revealed by the Well being Insurance coverage, 650,000 teleconsultation acts had been billed between Might 18 and Might 31, 2020. Then, throughout the first week of June, the teleconsultation recorded greater than 520,000 invoices. Within the present context, the Haute Autorité de la Santé recommends persevering with the deployment of telehealth with a view to permit healthcare professionals to handle sufferers remotely. The Excessive Authority for Well being additionally specifies that “within the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, the acts carried out by teleconsultation, the acts of help for teleconsultation, in addition to for the acts of teleconsultation are 100% reimbursed by Well being Insurance coverage. “

Since September 2018, the teleconsultation is supported by the Well being Insurance coverage, provided that the affected person scrupulously follows his coordinated care path. Nonetheless, with a view to relieve metropolis medication and unclog emergency providers, particular measures have been launched. Thus, for sufferers presenting signs of the an infection or acknowledged as having Covid-19, the teleconsultation is reimbursed at 100%. That is legitimate even when the affected person is outdoors the coordinated care path and even whether it is the first consultation with the practitioner in query.

Teleconsultation: are medical doctors taking part in the sport?

To deal with the restrictions, medical doctors have needed to modify the way in which they apply medication. That is how teleconsultation has emerged as a related methodology of affected person care. Sufferers affected by Covid-19, or these requiring common monitoring for a Lengthy Time period Illness (ALD), had been in a position to be cared for remotely, with out taking any well being danger.

Whereas the teleconsultation had solely 3000 medical doctors in mid-March, on the finish of April, greater than 45,000 medical doctors provided on-line session. Amongst them, greater than 30,000 common practitioners provided this new service to their sufferers. A number of surveys already show that on the finish of the well being measures, at the very least 70% of medical doctors want to combine teleconsultation into their every day apply.

Can the craze for teleconsultations proceed?

By breaking the isolation of populations, together with in medical deserts, and serving to practitioners enhance the standard of care, teleconsultation has develop into an efficient different to face-to-face consultations. In occasions of epidemic, teleconsultation makes it attainable to keep away from a break within the care of populations affected by continual or extreme pathologies.

“I visited a physician on-line to resume a medical prescription whereas in quarantine. I found the apply and I intend to proceed with teleconsultation each time attainable, ”explains Amédée, piano instructor. Like Amédée, sufferers who’ve already practiced teleconsultation want to proceed to undertake this kind of session. As for the medical doctors, teleconsultation permits them to extend their earnings whereas guaranteeing optimum high quality of care.