I'm a medical professional and interested in peoples thoughts about the future of telehealth.
It depends on the circumstances … and the wishes of the customer.
It's somewhat ironic that for years you couldn't get anything out of a doctor without "coming in for a consultation" … it's now swapped around, not because it necessarily suits the customer, but suits the supplier.
In answer to your questions …
Presumably I can now get relatively mundane matters sorted out without having to visit the surgery and take up all the extra time travelling to/from the surgery (not to mention seemingly endless time in the waiting room).
The assumption by the practice staff that your matter can be dealt with via telehealth before they understand the purpose of your wishing to make an appointment. I don't mind them channelling appropriate matters that way, but perhaps try to understand the needs of the patient first?
Dealing with relatively mundane issues that don't require physical examination.
As above, it will depend on the condition and the reason for the appointment.
Definitely a preference for video in the main.
Again, depends on the situation. Can I email in a request for a fresh prescription and just have it dealt with? Then great. Will I have to go back and for over rounds of email to get the problem sorted? No thanks.
Telehealth is great for routine consults. Saves time. I can do my stuff while waiting for my doctor. And I don't need to sit with patients who are sick but don't wear masks.
Video or phone, I don't really care, since it's just a routine consult.
I'm not sure about emailing my doctor. Doesn't seem very important, and I don't really want doctors to be answering emails all day.
I think the system still needs bit of an update to make telehealth friendly to everyone, especially on the whole documents and paper works that may be needed. I get around it OK, but I don't think it is necessarily friendly to people who aren't used to the technology.
I think it's a way forward. I doubt it'd replace the traditional method yet and there are hickups here and there, but I think benefits outweigh the negatives.
It's probably a good thing - if I only wanted a script for a blood test, it's a far more efficient way than having to rock up to the medical centre, vegged out for hours while waiting for your turn then get outta there. Eliminated the transit time, eliminate wasted time sitting in the waiting room and more importantly, don't need to be stuck in the waiting room with all kinds of stuff floating in the air.
Can I contact an overseas GP? Will the pharmacist still accept the script? How does the GP measure symptoms through a grainy picture?
I am sure someone is going to create a business like this.
I can answer the second question, since I have gotten a prescripition for my insomnia from my GP. Apparently you can. Not sure whether the arrangement is temporary or permanent, but they sent me a digital prescription which I was able to go to a pharmacist with. Not sure whether that is just my state though.
Though I am not sure whether I would have been able to get the prescrription if I saw him for the first time. As in, he knew my medical history and my understanding of what I am going through, so I am sure there weren't concerns over possible abuse?
I think it is really good. Saves me a lot of time, travel and exposure. I hope they keep it.
Good if you have established rapport with the dr so makes it easier to obtain regular scripts/ med certs. However, it's limited for getting medical clearance (anything that is more than a cold that has cleared up) requires in person consult. Currently, a lot of medical clinics are lacking/ not equipped with the technology/process/training to support telehealth consults i.e. headsets, video accessibility, e-correspondence, administration support, apps, booking system etc
Telehealth definitely has its place in the future, much like WFH, but it requires the infrastructure to support it to provide a streamlined experience without placing further burden on the GPs to figure it out (remote teaching anyone?!). Their central job is providing care and health advice to the patient, not be inundated with admin work or be IT gurus due to ill-planning.
I quite like the Telehealth. Especially for quick things like just needing a medical certificate.
I don’t think older people like seeing their doctor via a phone call
I also think it’s not a great thing unless it’s your regular doctor who you have a history with. As I can’t see how a doctor (for example) can prescribe a drug to a patient who they have no history with over a phone call. Which I’m sure the majority wouldn’t anyway.
I love it for getting a medical certificate! (If I can get an appointment while I’m still sick)