Teleconsultation

Whether you're close by or far away, the key is to get a thorough examination! You can chat with reputable doctors and psychologists from anywhere in the world. This is an effective way to manage chronic health conditions, treat acute illnesses, or get a second independent opinion on previous examination results.

Tuesday, 19/03/2024

Introduction

In the fast-paced world we live in, prioritizing our health can often be a challenge. Fortunately, the advent of technology has brought forth telemedicine, a convenient and effective solution for those with limited time or access to traditional medical facilities. Embracing this innovative approach, Wellcare proudly introduces our telemedicine services, designed to deliver utmost convenience and comprehensive healthcare to everyone.

Effectiveness of Telemedicine

Effectiveness in Treating Common Ailments

Over the past two decades (as of 2024), numerous studies have been conducted across various countries to evaluate the efficacy of telemedicine compared to in-person consultations. The findings consistently demonstrate that telemedicine, when implemented appropriately, delivers comparable quality of care to in-person visits. As a result, telemedicine has been globally recognized as an effective alternative to traditional consultations, offering both economic and time-saving benefits for patients seeking general and mental healthcare.

This review provides evidence that certain telehealth services are equivalent to or more clinically effective than usual care, according to clinical discipline and application... The findings from this review support the view that in the right context, telehealth will not compromise the effectiveness of clinical care when compared with conventional forms of health service delivery. (Snoswell CL et al, 2021) (1)

Teleconsultations via telephone or videoconference are an effective alternative to face-to-face consultations for many patients attending primary care and mental health services. (Carrillo de Albornoz S et al 2022) (2)

Effectiveness in Chronic Disease Management

Telemedicine has demonstrated significant benefits in managing chronic diseases, attributed to several key factors:

Eliminating geographical barriers: Telemedicine facilitates convenient consultations between patients and healthcare providers, regardless of their location, leading to higher patient satisfaction.

Enhanced monitoring and intervention: Healthcare providers can readily monitor patients' conditions, promptly intervene when necessary, and adjust treatment plans regularly, enabling early detection and prevention of complications.

Personalized care plans: By reviewing symptom descriptions and medical history, providers can tailor care plans to each patient's specific needs, fostering better patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans.

Telemedicine had a positive effect on the management of diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis, especially when telemedicine consultation and telemonitoring method were used… Telemedicine improved the systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients while also reducing negative emotions and enhancing medication adherence in rheumatoid arthritis patients. (Ma, Y., Zhao, C., Zhao, Y. et al. 2022) (3)

Comprehensive Service

Users can receive diagnoses, treatment plans, recommendations for medications or alternative treatments, and follow-up appointment schedules when necessary. Furthermore, the system connects users directly with a network of reputable pharmacies nationwide. This provides a seamless experience from the moment the user starts experiencing health issues until their condition is improved.

Time and Cost Savings

Telemedicine helps us save effort, travel costs, and waiting time. Both patients and doctors can focus more on the health issue at hand, rather than having to expend additional energy on transportation and administrative procedures. The efficiency of healthcare is also significantly improved as a result.

- Dear Dr. Doan: Over the past two years, thanks to your consultations on the telemedicine channel, I have saved over 20 million dong (no travel costs, no unnecessary tests, etc.). That's on the material side. On the spiritual side, I can only use one word, WONDERFUL, for you, Dr. Doan. Your advice has helped me, my wife, and my family understand the problem and follow your instructions with complete peace of mind. Thank you very much, Doctor. - The Wellcare team has been very supportive. I wish you all good health and continued development of this service to the entire population, so that everyone can benefit from high-quality medical services at SUPER CHEAP prices." (Nguyen Trung Du, 2019)

Flexible and Convenient Communication

Remote healthcare provides various communication channels for patients to connect with doctors from different specialties, including messaging, phone calls, and video calls. This flexibility allows users to access physicians and psychologists in a timely and effective manner.

Team of Doctors and Psychologists

With over 40 specialties, our team of doctors and psychologists is not only highly experienced, but also places a strong emphasis on the mental health of patients.

Both Physical and Mental Health

Mental health plays a crucial role in our overall well-being and greatly impacts our quality of life. Early treatment of mental health issues can make a difference, even saving lives. Our team of experts provides guidance not only on physical health, but also supports patients in addressing psychological issues, offering comprehensive care for their health.

Expertise

Our doctors and specialists have excellent academic backgrounds and in-depth knowledge in their respective fields. They also regularly participate in specialized training programs to stay updated on the latest scientific research and apply evidence-based treatment protocols.

Dr. Doan explained enthusiastically and clearly. His professional expertise is high, with advanced treatment methods and updated on new trends, unlike most other doctors. The family has great trust in him and is very grateful for the detailed information he shared about using antibiotics to avoid indiscriminate antibiotic use for their child. The Wellcare team is enthusiastic and professional. (Le Quynh Mai, Oct 2023)

Extensive Clinical Experience

Extensive clinical experience is crucial. It translates into practical experience, honed skills, and sharper decision-making, ultimately enhancing the capabilities of healthcare professionals. Our team of doctors and mental health professionals boasts an average of 17.7 years of experience, well-equipped to develop effective treatment plans for various common health concerns.

"Thank you Dr. Xuan Linh very, very much! Because of your careful follow-up and enthusiastic advice, my child this time didn't take unnecessary antibiotics and avoid unnecessary tests. I had taken my child to see another doctor before, and they prescribed antibiotics right away. I was so scared, so I had to use Wellcare to call Dr. Linh. My child had a fever for two days, then a high fever for three days, with swollen tonsils, headache, and stomachache. Dr. Linh diagnosed a viral infection. I tried my best not to give my child antibiotics, and they got through this illness. Thank you so much, Dr. Linh. My child gets sick often, about once a month, and every time we see local doctors, they prescribe antibiotics. I was so worried and didn't know what to do. Now, thanks to Wellcare, my child and I can easily see Dr. Linh. I wish Dr. Linh lots of health and happiness. (Nguyen Minh Phuong, Feb 2019)”

Personalized Treatment

Doctors and psychologists approach the problem in a personalized manner, customizing the treatment plan to meet the specific needs of each individual. The doctors actively listen, consider the patient's medical history, engage in open and frank discussions to ensure that the personalized treatment is highly effective. This is the foundation for a positive and productive doctor-patient and psychologist-client relationship.

Thank you Dr. Mai Duy Linh for the very caring consultation, closely addressing our needs and questions, explaining patiently so that I could better understand the condition. My family and I are very grateful to the doctor. Thank you to the proactive support team for helping me complete the preparation for an effective consultation session. The application works well and updates accurately. Feedback for the application: error notifications should be displayed for a longer duration so users have time to read them. When I upload a video that exceeds the size limit, the notification appears too briefly and disappears, and I don't know what the issue is, requiring me to try a few times. (Pham Thi Ngoc Trinh, Aug 2023)

Empathy

The team of doctors and psychologists have the ability to understand and empathize with the patient's experience. Patients feel heard and shared with. Empathy has helped the doctors and psychologists connect with patients at a deeper level, fostering trust, open and honest communication. The goal of the doctors and psychologists is not just to provide medical knowledge, but also to offer emotional support, thereby achieving a higher treatment outcome.

After a month working with Coach Ân, I've received a lot of help. During the sessions with Coach Ân, I felt listened to and acknowledged, feeling like my story and emotions mattered. Coach Ân guided me on ways to accept myself and be more confident in myself, to be happy with what I have right now. This has stopped me from overreacting to things happening in life. Coach Ân also gave me new mindsets to see life in a more positive and lighter way. Thank you, Coach Ân. (Nguyen Thao Anh, Apr 2024)

Proactive Prevention - The Key to Lasting Health

Healthcare professionals deeply recognise the importance of prevention and health education. Rather than simply focusing on treating symptoms, they start with the goal of helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. Crucially, they also take the time to thoroughly explain to patients the underlying causes of their health issues.

By adopting this approach, doctors and psychologists aim to achieve long-term treatment efficacy and sustainable wellbeing for their patients and clients. They understand that only when patients comprehend the root causes can they make the necessary lifestyle adjustments for lasting health improvements.

Our family and I thanks the Doctor and Wellcare very much. After reviewing our child's medical records, Dr. Duyên diagnosed the root cause of our child's persistent cough and explained it clearly and understandably to our family. Especially, there was no need for any medication, just the methods Dr. Duyên instructed and advised. Our family feels very relieved and trusts Dr. Duyên and the Wellcare telemedicine system. (Nguyen Huu Tho, Feb 2022)

Steps for Remote Consultation

Step 1: Select a doctor and prepare before the consultation

Select a doctor and book an appointment through the app or website. Users can also request support in choosing a suitable doctor for their health issue by messaging the support staff.
In the registration steps, users are recommended to provide the following health information to the doctor in advance:
- Write a description of the current health problems & the chronological progression of symptoms;
- List any questions or concerns;
- Upload any relevant images and video clips, such as: old prescriptions / X-rays / lab tests / ultrasounds / skin condition photos, etc.

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The more detailed and specific the information, the more effective the remote examination will be.

Step 2: Chat with the doctor

You need to ensure you have a stable internet connection and a quiet, private space before entering the consultation or remote examination.

You also need to download the app, grant permissions for the app to send notifications, and use the camera and microphone so you can make or receive calls from doctors and mental health experts.

The system supports all forms of video calls, internet calls, and traditional phone calls to the dedicated hotline for remote examinations.

Step 3: View Diagnosis, Medication Instructions, and Care Guidance

After the doctor confirms the consultation is 'Completed', the system will send a notification in the app. At this point, the user can view the Diagnosis, Instructions, and Recommended Medication (if any) by accessing the electronic medical record in the app.

Users can also rate and provide feedback after each consultation. On a weekly basis, the doctors and mental health experts thoroughly read and take note of all the feedback for each consultation case.

Consultation Fees and Payment Guide:

The fees for remote consultations include:

Consultation fees vary depending on the specialist's expertise and consultation duration. Surcharges apply for video calls, English consultations, and consultations on Sundays or holidays.
Care-team Service Fees: a fixed fee for each consultation. This fee is waived for users with a membership package (valid for 12 months).

Users need to top up their Consultation Wallet before making payments:

E-wallets like Momo, ZaloPay
ATM cards or credit cards, through the secure payment gateway of ZaloPay
Bank transfer (include the registered phone number in the transfer description) to the following bank account:

CTCP Cong nghe mHealth - 0261003454806 - Vietcombank, Ho Chi Minh City branch

Upon successful payment (bank transfers may take 30 minutes to process), your electronic medical record with the consultation time will be accessible within the app. Additionally, a "Call Doctor" button will be available.

Getting Started is Easy!

1. Download the App and Create Your Account

Head to your app store and download the Wellcare app.

Create Your Account:

Once downloaded, open the app and register for an account. You'll be asked to provide your primary phone number and information for yourself and any family members you want to include.

Why Create an Account?

Your account acts as a central hub for all your family's medical records within the app. This makes it easy to access past consultations, medications, and recommendations for everyone you care about.

Pro Tip:

Use the phone number you check most frequently during registration. This ensures the care team can reliably connect you with support and services whenever you need them.

2. Become a Member

Registering for a membership package will give users access to the entire knowledge base and healthcare tools and education resources, as well as free service fees for each consultation, and various other benefits and privileges.

Provide Comprehensive Healthcare to Your Employees

Enhance your employees' well-being with Wellcare's comprehensive teleconsultation benefits. By offering remote access to healthcare services, you empower your workforce with:

Increased Accessibility: Employees can consult with healthcare providers conveniently from anywhere, reducing time and effort spent on commuting.
Improved Efficiency: Streamlined appointment scheduling and reduced wait times for consultations.
Expanded Healthcare Services: Access to a wider range of specialists and services, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Invest in your employees' health and productivity today. Contact us at [email protected] for more information and a customized plan.

Source

Snoswell CL, Chelberg G, De Guzman KR, Haydon HH, Thomas EE, Caffery LJ, Smith AC. The clinical effectiveness of telehealth: A systematic review of meta-analyses from 2010 to 2019. J Telemed Telecare. 2023 Oct;29(9):669-684. doi: 10.1177/1357633X211022907. Epub 2021 Jun 29. PMID: 34184580.
Carrillo de Albornoz S, Sia KL, Harris A. The effectiveness of teleconsultations in primary care: systematic review. Fam Pract. 2022 Jan 19;39(1):168-182. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmab077. PMID: 34278421; PMCID: PMC8344904.
Ma, Y., Zhao, C., Zhao, Y. et al. Telemedicine application in patients with chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 22, 105 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01845-2
Xiao Z, Han X. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Telehealth Chronic Disease Management System: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Apr 27;25:e44256. doi: 10.2196/44256. PMID: 37103993; PMCID: PMC10176143.