Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the entire globe accelerated the digitalization process in healthcare service delivery. Digitalization steps that have shown effect for a while in healthcare sector, but advances slowly, speeded up remarkably with the effect of pandemic. While healthcare institutions revised their websites appropriately in this process, they also started to implement methods to access the patients without need for presenting to the institution.
Many steps were taken in this scope. Emergency patients could contact the physicians online from their homes. Thus, those individuals were affected by the pandemic to a minimum extent.
Patients could have video talks with the specialist physicians about their diseases in the comfort of their own homes. This method was first used to follow up chronic diseases in the risk group; then, it was performed with the physicians from all necessary branches by means of smart phones, tablets and computers with cameras. This beneficial healthcare service has been demanded more than it was ever before during the pandemic period.
During these practices, “Online Doctor”, “Online Psychologist” and “Online Dietician” services came to forefront. Except for cardiac arrest, sudden allergic conditions and similar disorders, Online Doctor application made many people’s work easier in conditions that are not of vital emergency. Thanks to this application, patients who do not need physical examination and medical intervention during the examination can have their examinations and routine follow-ups regarding their all healthcare problems remotely and online. The patients can ask their examination and test results to their physicians and get the answers in online environment without leaving their homes. Thanks to this application, which city or country that you currently live or visit does not matter.
Online appointments became widespread in time. Interviews with psychologists and dieticians also started to be online. Everyone can have benefit from these applications. You should only contact call center, get an appointment and be online at the scheduled time.
Home care requests of patients who can easily contact the physician with internet based communication are also met quickly.
Digitalization in health also paved the way for digitalizing the documents such as brochures and journals.
This method was developed for patients who need examination or treatment but cannot or do not want to go to hospital. You may arrange a video call with your physician by making an appointment from your house or work place and receive examination, diagnosis and test services.
Digital applications such as “Online Doctor”, “Online Psychologist” and “Online Dietician” started to be used in pandemic period, however, they became permanent.
You should only contact the call center, get an appointment from the doctor you request to see and make an internet based communication on the scheduled date.
Thanks to the application, you do not have to leave your house. You interview with your doctor in internet environment. Therefore, you prevent the risks of pandemic.
You can use the application for many fields, primarily to contact Psychologist and Dietician.
It is not necessary to be in the same city and even in the same country with the institution providing online services. You can contact the physician and receive treatment from anywhere that you can use internet based communication.
As is the case when you physically visit a hospital, you have the right to select physicians for online interviews.
You can share all the information you obtain at home with your physician. The doctor will help and guide you remotely for all subjects that do not require physical examination.
An examination in outpatient clinic is organized if your physician decides that physical examination is necessary during online appointment.
All procedures are conducted under medical opinion and supervision of the physician in accordance with the patient’s status in online appointment. All reports are included in the patient’s medical records.
Your physician can prescribe medications at the end of online appointment.