Online doctor consultation is a partial solution to healthcare delivery challenges to an aging and diverse population. Remote consultations provide advantages to patients by sparing them the inconvenience and cost of travel. It is also cost-effective for healthcare systems. There are fears that online consultations are clinically risky and less acceptable to staff and patients. They bring regulatory, logistical, and technical challenges. This article outlines online doctor consultation pros and cons.
What Is It?
An online doctor consultation offers a medical appointment through the Internet. You use digital devices to chat with a healthcare professional about your health history and symptoms. The doctor provides a diagnosis and a prescription if needed.
Pros:
- Convenience
- Accessibility
- Lower Costs
- Time-saving
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Ability to consult specialists.
Convenience
Among the most significant benefits of an online doctor consultation is not fighting traffic to get to the appointment or sitting in a crowded waiting room. With a few clicks, you are virtually face-to-face with a physician. It also offers a sense of reassurance and comfort when speaking with the doctor from familiar surroundings. Connecting with a physician anywhere makes prioritizing your well-being and health more accessible.
Accessibility
Electronic consultations are a promising approach to improving access to healthcare. Those with chronic conditions or mobility issues find online consultations a game-changer by providing access that is otherwise difficult to attain. Patients in remote areas need online consulting services. Online consultations improve coordination of care across systems of care and geographical distances. There is better satisfaction for patients who are uncomfortable seeing a doctor in person.
Lower Costs
Typically, telemedicine visits cost less than in-person visits. Health Affairs Journal published a study that showed it is possible to save as much as $88 per visit when you consult a doctor online. For those having no health insurance, an online consultation is very cost-effective. The average doctor’s visit is $120. An online visit costs between $20 and $40. It is a reduction in out-of-pocket expenses and removes a barrier to care.
Time-Saving
Taking time off from work for a ten-minute consultation is a high price when there is technology that allows an online visit from home or work. Virtual visits make them easier to fit into a busy schedule. Patients save time by avoiding commutes, waiting in a long queue, and spending hours at a clinic. Schedule appointments quickly. Efficiently conducted consultations reduce the time spent on healthcare visits.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Most online doctor consultations are video calls on smartphones, tablets, or computers. Healthcare providers use a secure patient portal to call, message, or video chat with patients. They call from a private setting like an appointment room or their office. The patient is also in a safe, private location where they feel comfortable openly discussing their health.
Ability to Consult Specialists
Physicians increasingly embrace resources and tools to optimize patient care. Electronic physician consultation creates a communication channel between a primary care physician and a range of specialists. With the technology, providers confer and share a patient’s medical history. They collaborate on a care plan. The patient remains in the hands of the PCP while benefiting from the expertise of specialists.
Cons
While telehealth is a cost-effective and convenient way to see a doctor without leaving your home, there are some downsides. They include
- Limited physical examinations
- Limited availability of prescriptions
- Technical issues
- Potential for misdiagnosis
- Lack of personal connection
Limited Physical Examination
Online consultations are useful for routine check-ups and minor illnesses. It is best to seek in-person medical attention for emergencies and more serious conditions. Some medical conditions necessitate physical procedures or examinations that are available only in hospitals.
Limited Availability of Prescriptions
Some online doctors may need more time to be able to provide the prescribed medications. Fortunately, HGH therapy is easily allowed by online specialists. Find out how to get legal HGH quickly through online consultation. Services sometimes vary based on an employer or health plan.
Technical Issues
Ensuring the device and internet connection are in proper working order is essential. Test the speaker, microphone, and camera to prevent technical hiccups. Glitches disrupt the consultation and impede communication.
Potential for Misdiagnosis
The University of Cambridge conducted a survey providing insight into doctors’ and patients’ perceptions of remote appointments. They found remote consultations more convenient but less diagnostically accurate than in-person appointments. Virtual appointments increase barriers to care and the risk of misdiagnosis.
Lack of Personal Connection
The features of the medium supporting doctor-patient communication change when there is a shift from face-to-face to mobile context. Media capabilities that support information transmission and processing determine communication outcomes. Computer-mediated communication impacts the doctor-patient relationship. Undesirable doctor-user communication leads to poor doctor-patient relationships.
Conclusion
Whether to consider an online doctor consultation depends on the reason for seeing a doctor. Online consultations are excellent for
- Follow-up visits
- Easy-to-see examinations, such as skin or eyes
- Mental health services, such as counseling
- Prescription refills
- Monitoring chronic conditions, such as diabetes or asthma
In-person visits are best for
- First-time visits
- Examinations requiring a hands-on approach, such as listening to your lungs or feeling for a lump
- Blood tests and imaging scans like X-rays
