Telemedicine is on the rise as an option for patients

The social isolation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has come to change everything from the way we work, study, share and buy, to the way we receive medical care through telemedicine. And it is that this practice, already existing, seems to have gained relevance in times when physical contact is a risk, both for doctors and for patients.

Telemedicine It is a remote medical consultation via call or video call. This method allows you to maintain health care in cases where a procedure or in-person medical intervention is not justified.

According to the president of the College of Surgeons of Puerto Rico, Dr. Víctor Ramos Otero, “telemedicine is here to stay”.

“Definitely. There are patients who are technological and will always want to be telemedicine, except when it is absolutely necessary that they need a procedure. This will be forever because everything has changed forever. The law of the ‘Surprise invoice’ (Law for the protection of the patient against medical expenses) approved that after December 21st any telemedicine meeting the plans will be paid as if it were in person“Ramos Otero said.

Despite the benefits of this practice in historical times, Dr. Ramos accepted it telemedicine faces its pitfalls, mainly due to the complications of accessing technology.

“It’s a challenge. Not everyone is an expert in telemedicine. There are patients who like it, there are patients who don’t like it. Sometimes patients have access problems because they live in remote places and internet access is a problem. problem. One, as a doctor, also has problems, while the elderly have to be helped or they can’t, ”he commented.

Another of the difficulties that telemedicine faces are the limitations of this practice, where you can only attend consultations, but not medical procedures.

“It is for things that cannot be done with telemedicine because it is not possible to remove stitches or put a cast with telemedicine. They have to be things that can be done, “Ramos said.

According to the pediatrician himself, these limitations force that telemedicine appointments can only be used mostly by specialties where so many medical procedures are not needed.

“It depends on the specialties. Some yes (they can use telemedicine), others not. Those who do many procedures cannot do it, but those who have to analyze many laboratories, because they see more telemedicine appointments ”, the doctor specified.

Despite these limitations, Ramos assured that telemedicine is useful for chronic patients who must be constantly monitored by the doctor, as well as to obtain drugs.

“Help chronic patients who can do it on their own or who have a family member to help them. Also for bedridden patients who have to analyze the laboratories and right there (internet) send the electronic prescription. It can be to the patient or directly to the selected pharmacy. There are many things that can be done with telemedicine, ”he said.

What is a telemedicine appointment like?

According to the president of the College of Surgeons, the process for both coordinating an appointment and conducting the telemedicine meeting is quite simple.

“The patient calls and coordinates with the secretary for an hour to connect. They send you a link or call you, depending on the platform they use. You have the entire interview process. It is basically like a face to face visit. The patient must do everything as if it were an appointment at the office. He must know his condition, his medications, know what is happening to him, so that the doctor can work according to the reason for the visit“Said Ramos, who took the opportunity to emphasize the gravity of the virtual process.

“The telemedicine visit is exactly like a face to face visit. One cannot think that a telemedicine visit is less rigorous than usual“Said the specialist doctor.

It should be noted that patients who have telemedicine appointments should prepare as they would if they had to show up at the office to see their doctor in person.

“They have to assume that everything is like a face to face date. Know what medications they are taking and at what time. Know what conditions they have and, of course, know why they’re calling, ”the pediatrician said.

Another recommendation is that, When making an appointment for telemedicine, consult the secretariat why you need this meeting, in order to confirm that this is the useful alternative in your case.

“If you call to make an appointment, make that telemedicine appointment, the appointment starts and it really had to be in person because they have to do the procedure, because it wasn’t really worth much,” he stressed to make sure “it’s important that I tell you. to the secretary what do you want the visit for. Yes, things may happen at the telemedicine appointment that require a face-to-face appointment, but that’s during the visit. It is recommended that, at the time of the appointment, the secretary specifies what the appointment is for and then certifies whether or not it can be for telemedicine “, concluded the doctor.