Online Consultations: The Top 9 Myths
Any telemedicine platform must ensure that healthcare delivery meets the highest standards. MedWire is no exception! We at medwire have taken every precaution to minimize medical-legal risks to doctors and hospital partners so they can continue providing healthcare services without hesitation or doubt. Before we go any further, let's quickly explain telemedicine or online consultation.
What is Telemedicine/Online Consultation, and what are its benefits?
Telemedicine means that healthcare services can be delivered to patients when the doctor and patient aren't physically present. The internet has made it possible to deliver simple healthcare services online.
Online consultation is simple and accessible. It takes health care to remote locations in a cost-effective manner.
It is wrong to suggest that online consultations replace in-person visits. However, it is fair to say that online consultation makes healthcare delivery more efficient and accessible.
Moreover, online consultation still has a long way to go. These are still early days for digital health care. It is high time to dispel some myths around it to understand its benefits.
MYTH 1 - Patients do not believe telemedicine
It's the exact opposite. Recent surveys on telemedicine revealed that patients are warming up to it. They no longer have to wait for their doctor's appointments and can avoid driving to get there. Telemedicine allows them to access medical care at any time. You can access holistic care at MedWire by simply touching the phone, whether in a large city or a remote village.
MYTH 2 - 'Telemedicine Is illegal'
Of course, telemedicine is accurate and legal. There's absolutely no room for doubt or concerns.
The Government of India has recognized telemedicine as a healthcare service and an information service. Furthermore, there is no specific law or act that prohibits telemedicine practice in India.
MYTH 3 - Telemedicine compromises the quality of healthcare
Without quality, any healthcare platform, even telemedicine, will sink. Making healthcare transparent and affordable drives us at Medwire to deliver maximum quality.
Our patients receive the highest standards of virtual care. Our goal is to provide a diagnosis that is unambiguous using evidence-based guidelines and novel clinical technology for cases that can be managed with virtual care. Not all cases can receive virtual care. MedWire does not claim to be able to treat every case. You can consult top physicians anytime using the medwire app.
Get digital prescriptions that include not only your medication but also your lifestyle and diet recommendations. The app allows you to manage your medical history, prescriptions, and health information in one place. Any doctor you consult via the Medwire app can also access your medical history within the same app. And, of course, we are very particular about patient data safety. We use the best encryption tech and authentication protocols.
MYTH 4 - 'A physical exam is mandatory in healthcare.
For a long time, it has been held that a physical exam is necessary to diagnose any condition. Although this is true for certain conditions, it's only the case for some. A doctor can diagnose minor, urgent conditions by examining the medical history and symptoms. A doctor-patient consultation doesn't include providing an immediate diagnosis or treatment. Follow-up calls and post-consultation checks are integral parts of our healthcare delivery. This doesn't necessarily mean that a physical exam is required.
MYTH 5 - Telemedicine can cause fragmentation in the care given to patients
When done correctly, telemedicine can guarantee a long-term, effective doctor-patient relationship with a care plan that is resistant to time. We believe in maintaining an individual's full health.
Plus, our cloud-based architecture means that r doctors can view the patient's medical history in real-time. It helps them accurately evaluate any future health concerns. The follow-up feature on the medwire app allows patients to contact the same doctor periodically.
The geographic reach is also broad through telemedicine. The service hours can also be extended via Virtual Care. This is a benchmark because health issues don't follow a 9-5 pattern like jobs. It can happen anytime, anywhere.
MYTH 6 - Telemedicine threatens a patient's privacy
In some cases, telemedicine may present a privacy risk if patient data is shared without proper security measures. However, Patient confidentiality is integral to medwire. We adhere to top-of-the-line data privacy, security, and quality standards that form our service's core.
MYTH 7: Telemedicine has a higher risk of malpractice
Telemedicine reduces the chance of malpractice. It provides a more efficient way for doctors to consult with other doctors and a cloud-secured way for doctors to access patient information. Patient data and other related information will always stay in one location. It also enhances the outreach methods for doctors to keep track of their patients.
MYTH 8: "All Telemedicine Platforms Work the Same Way"
It's not true! When providing care via a virtual medium for our patients by specially-trained physicians, we follow a strict protocol. The patient signs terms of Use and Consent to receive treatment from doctors via the medwire channel.
They are also familiar with the limitations and can indemnify doctors for any liability arising during care due to the channel's limitations. This channel is for routine care and should not be used in critical situations. The medwire care team follows stringent TRIAGE PROTOCOLS. They will not accept any case that is not considered critical during screening.
MYTH 9 - Telemedicine doesn't provide authentic prescriptions
The truth is that the 1945 Drugs and Cosmetics Rules specify the requirements for a valid prescription. The prescription must meet the following legal requirements.
Registered medical practitioners should issue prescriptions.
It must adhere to the guidelines defined under Section 65 (10)in Drugs and Cosmetic Rules. 1945.
An electronic prescription may be validated as a legal prescription when it is a secured electronic record affixed by a digital signature, as prescribed under the IT Act 2000.
Medwire adheres to all of the above. And the prescription given by our care-team doctors is valid and authentic under all circumstances. It is.
Telemedicine has many benefits for patients, doctors, and medical institutions. It also plays a vital role in developing and delivering healthcare in India.
MedWire is committed to providing on-demand access to Quality Healthcare to Millions of Indians while providing Legal Safety to our Partners on the Platform. As we've seen over the past few months, there is much to be proud of.
We have helped many people in dire need. Together, we can have a more significant impact on how primary healthcare is delivered. Let us all continue our efforts to ensure better healthcare delivery and access for millions of Indians.