TeleHealth

[AlienSoldier]

I've been investing in some virtual health companies for a while now and found the latest call's from them interesting. The pandemic has really helped push telehealth forward with numbers more than doubling every quarter. What was supposed to take 10 years in patient numbers and technology is now here in 1! Personally this has been great for my portfolio, but what is coming is even more interesting.

Some of the conversations raised included doctors from around the world being able to talk to patients in Canada to help reduce medical costs. Obviously there will need to be QA and QC to manage the quality of doctors but it seems like something that will be viable in the not to distant future. The captialist in me is all for it, as companies are all about efficiencies and reducing costs. The Liberal in me see's this as a societial issue.

I've tried telehealth and it seems to be great! No waiting in the waiting area, the doctor called me within the alloted 30 minutes and we were finished very quickly. The prescription arrived in the protal and I was able to fill it online and get my medication in the mail.

What are people's thoughts on telehealth. Pro's and con's? Have you tried it and what were your experiences?

[Urban Cowboy]

Wouldn't making a diagnosis based solely on what the patient says, be far more risky than the doctor being able to do it themselves in a hands on scenario?

Might as well just go online self diagnose and book your surgery no?

Based on experience, it's hard enough to get to the root of some problems, even when you're standing in front of the doctor.

This strikes me as a plan simply begging to be exploited by big pharma.

[alanjh595]

I use the service provided by my GP........I love it. In fact, I have I have an appointment today for script renewals.

I have booked a CT scat and an ultra-sound coming up soon. I will be booking my surgery on-line thru IH after the tests are completed.

[GordonH]

At one time everything was full service, how everything heading towards self service and telehealth is just another step in that direction.

I still do majority of my banking at my branch... grocery shopping I go to human cashier... I have no plans of giving up my family Dr... etc... etc

[Lady tehMa]

I think TeleHealth is fine for a lot of things. Renewing prescriptions is one of the big ones.

I have consulted with 2 specialists in the past 6 months and my regular doctor. I'm also having appointments with a counsellor. If I need a physical examination that is arranged. For the most part, I haven't needed a physical exam.

Not having to physically go in frees up quite a bit of time in my day, plus I imagine it does for them as well.

[AlienSoldier]

Wouldn't making a diagnosis based solely on what the patient says, be far more risky than the doctor being able to do it themselves in a hands on scenario?

Might as well just go online self diagnose and book your surgery no?

Based on experience, it's hard enough to get to the root of some problems, even when you're standing in front of the doctor.

This strikes me as a plan simply begging to be exploited by big pharma.

Great point. But my personal opinion is that most diagnosis is based on the Doctors knowledge and what they read from the patients descriptions. But where you need to touch the patient, that will still require in-house visits like you said. Maybe this will help move us towards a happy medium?

I see others moving into this field as well. There is mental health therapists who are online now via video or text chat, there are nutionalists, etc. I think it really does provide more access to more people. But there is less human to human interaction.

[alanjh595]

At one time everything was full service, how everything heading towards self service and telehealth is just another step in that direction.

I still do majority of my banking at my branch... grocery shopping I go to human cashier... I have no plans of giving up my family Dr... etc... etc

The only time that I step into my bank is when I need to sign a document in person. I use the drive-thru teller for any deposits, but can take any cash I want from the ATM at the grocery store.
I prefer grocery shopping in person, as I like to choose my fruits, veggies, breads and meats in person, but have no issue with using self check outs.
There was a time in my life, when Dr.s used to make house calls.
Just like there was a time that I had to stand in line and order liquor from a clerk that went and got it for you.
There was also when there was no such thing as self serve, and you had to run over an air hose, that rang a bell and the jockey would come out, pump your gas, check the oil and wash the windshield.

I would not want to give up my family Dr. either. BUT with the lack of Dr.s taking new patients these days, I can see that we are heading away from what we have and enjoy today.

[SuperMom]

Over the past couple of years I have needed to see many doctors quite regularly, even though many of the appointments have been a complete waste of my time. Since Covid, I have seen three specialists in person and have had several appointments with my GP either over the phone or video.

The specialists needed to see me in person to do physical exams, tests, or procedures, but most of my conversations with my GP have been simply to follow up on the results of those specialist appointments or to discuss medications or the need to refer out to another specialist. Being able to talk to my doctor on a video call saves me a lot of time as I don't need to drive to the clinic and wait to be seen. If needed, she can fax a prescription to my pharmacy. While it hasn't been necessary yet, I imagine that I could get an in person appointment if the situation required.

Years ago when I had a different GP and seldom needed to see him, I once went in due to ankle pain that had persisted for several weeks. I had to wait well past my scheduled appointment, but he spent no more than five minutes with me and didn't even touch my leg or foot. He brushed off my concerns, said it was a sprain and that they take weeks to heal, completely ignoring the fact I had said I'd had this pain for weeks already. Now there are many reasons why he isn't my doctor anymore, but I say this to illustrate that an in-person appointment isn't always guaranteed to be hands-on or beneficial for diagnosing or treating a problem, although it should be. As for my ankle pain, I changed my work shoes and the pain quickly resolved and never returned.

I am glad to see more virtual appointments. While virtual won't work for everyone or every situation, there is room for different ways of communicating with our doctors.

[AlienSoldier]

For those interested, here are the companies that I am following. Obviously you should do your own due diligence when you invest, so I am not promoting them, just giving information.

WELL.TO - BC based online and phyisical telehealth company
DOC.VN - CloudMD another online telehealth company which also deals with therapists
TeleDoc out of the US.

[alanjh595]

Over the past couple of years I have needed to see many doctors quite regularly, even though many of the appointments have been a complete waste of my time. Since Covid, I have seen three specialists in person and have had several appointments with my GP either over the phone or video.

The specialists needed to see me in person to do physical exams, tests, or procedures, but most of my conversations with my GP have been simply to follow up on the results of those specialist appointments or to discuss medications or the need to refer out to another specialist. Being able to talk to my doctor on a video call saves me a lot of time as I don't need to drive to the clinic and wait to be seen. If needed, she can fax a prescription to my pharmacy. While it hasn't been necessary yet, I imagine that I could get an in person appointment if the situation required.

Years ago when I had a different GP and seldom needed to see him, I once went in due to ankle pain that had persisted for several weeks. I had to wait well past my scheduled appointment, but he spent no more than five minutes with me and didn't even touch my leg or foot. He brushed off my concerns, said it was a sprain and that they take weeks to heal, completely ignoring the fact I had said I'd had this pain for weeks already. Now there are many reasons why he isn't my doctor anymore, but I say this to illustrate that an in-person appointment isn't always guaranteed to be hands-on or beneficial for diagnosing or treating a problem, although it should be. As for my ankle pain, I changed my work shoes and the pain quickly resolved and never returned.

I am glad to see more virtual appointments. While virtual won't work for everyone or every situation, there is room for different ways of communicating with our doctors.

I always hated sitting in the waiting room with a bunch of sick people. Most of the time, it was for more than 30 minutes.
For the time I spent there, all I could think about what decease the person had that sat on that chair and put their hands on the arms of that chair before I got there. Then I started thinking about all the sanitary reasons I had for not touching the reading materials in that room.
There was a study done at one time, that showed that the Dr.'s necktie was one of the most contaminated things in the office.

I love this new phase of medical care that is available.

[Bsuds]

Unless there is something my GP actually needs to look at the phone visits are way more convenient. I get blood tests every 3 months and then see the Dr to go over the results. Much better doing that over the phone than in person.

[alanjh595]

Unless there is something my GP actually needs to look at the phone visits are way more convenient. I get blood tests every 3 months and then see the Dr to go over the results. Much better doing that over the phone than in person.

I agree, I have taken this one step further, and bought a BP machine. I keep records and inform my GP when he calls.

It was a good move, he has now reduced 2 of my meds, as of yesterday.

[Bsuds]

I agree, I have taken this one step further, and bought a BP machine. I keep records and inform my GP when he calls.

It was a good move, he has now reduced 2 of my meds, as of yesterday.

I just bought a new one. My old one was giving very high readings.

[alanjh595]

I agree, I have taken this one step further, and bought a BP machine. I keep records and inform my GP when he calls.

It was a good move, he has now reduced 2 of my meds, as of yesterday.

I just bought a new one. My old one was giving very high readings.

Did that correct the problem? Maybe try laying on the floor, that would give a much lower reading.

[Omnitheo]

Telehealth will not be used for seeing doctors out of the country. At least not officially (IE paid for by province/health ministry). Health records in Canada must remain in Canada, so you wouldn't be able to have a doc in another country keeping your records in that country. At least not if you want coverage by MSP etc.

Virtual Visits are great for a large number of visits which do not require seeing a doctor in person. Quite often a visit starts with simple questioning, and the doctor can make observations/recommendations based on this. They can call you in if required. Additionally it's easier than ever for patients to also track their own information. Smart Watch owners have devices which already track pulse, heartrate and more, and blood pressure monitors and other devices are quite cheaply available which can send that information to your phone, which can also be forwarded to your doctor.