Benefits of consulting with a doctor online
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Internet users and IT penetration in India. As a result, people have also been encouraged to search for health information online giving rise to countless online health and consultation portals. Although the concept is new, the growing number of users and investors of these sites suggests their popularity. The idea of searching for health tips online is quite effective and convenient. It has innumerable advantages that are:
• Access: This is the main advantage of these services. The ability to interact with renowned doctors from anywhere makes it possible to seek medical advice in places where there is limited or no medical access. For someone who lives in a remote area or is uninsured, this is the easiest and most convenient way to seek medical care.
• Cost effective – At a time when visiting a doctor means paying high medical bills, patients are open to a low cost and effective means. An online consultation costs between INR 100-500 compared to OPD visits. Also, seeking help online means no travel expenses or missing the office, which translates to saving money.
• Privacy: Some people are quite happy with the increase in online consultations because it allows them to maintain their privacy. This is especially useful for those who have a chronic illness or wish to discuss any critical medical condition or issue. Patients who do not want to come forward with their disease or medical condition for fear of rejection by society are very inclined to consult online. It gives them the freedom to access various doctors and offer them medical answers and solutions.
• 24-hour consultation: Another fundamental factor that has contributed to the rise of online consultation is the fact that patients can now access doctors at any time of the day. Online health service providers are constantly striving to reach more and more patients every day. So now a patient can easily continue with their daily tasks and spend enough time seeing a specialist without compromising her time.
• Online Consultation v/s Self-diagnosis: There are times when we look for medical information related to a specific symptom, disease or medical condition through Google. But it is risky to rely on whatever medical information is available on various medical sites to diagnose one’s condition. Self-diagnosis may seem simple and easy, but it can lead to serious health conditions if done wrong. It is very important to determine the basic cause of your medical condition with the help of a correct diagnosis. In such cases, consulting with an online specialist can help clear doubts safely and effectively. In addition, the Internet is full of countless sites that provide information on various health problems, but some are not reliable at all. Therefore, it is highly recommended to have a reliable source to offer correct guidance.
• Advantage over telemedicine: Compared to telemedicine services, online medical consultation definitely has an advantage because it allows patients to share a detailed description of their condition. There is no time restriction. Patients also have the option to submit their medical history and share their reports.
• Being heard: one of the main concerns among patients is that doctors often end the session in a hurry without giving them the opportunity to clarify all their doubts. This is mainly due to the lack of time at the doctor’s end, the long queue outside his office, or other commitments that the doctor has to attend to. With the online consultation, you get the exclusivity to spend maximum time discussing all your problems patiently. There are no distractions or rush to end the session quickly. If a patient has been assigned a consultation time of 15 to 30 minutes, they can spend the entire time with the specialist.