Soon the end of the (interminable) hours of waiting for the doctor? A decree published on August 10, 2018 in the Official newspaper has just formalized the generalization of teleconsultation for all French people from September 15, 2018.
As of September, therefore, all patients will be able to consult their doctor remotely using a tablet or the camera integrated into their computer.
How’s it going ? After making an appointment online, the patient receives a secure link via email. He clicks on it and, via the webcam, he can talk to his doctor, who can possibly make an observation (for a scar, for example). At the end of the appointment, the prescription is sent by e-mail and the consultation is paid for through an online system – between 25 and 30 euros, with a classic reimbursement.
A useful initiative, especially for patients living in the middle of the medical desert: 8.6% of the metropolitan population is affected, according to a report by the Research Department (DREES) of the Ministry of Health published in 2017.
Teleconsultation: only the attending physician is concerned
There are two limitations, however: for the elderly (for whom transport is not always easy), the presence of a nurse or a caregiver will be essential to correctly use the teleconsultation device. And, for now, teleconsultation will only be possible with the attending physician, as part of the patient’s care path.
Last info: in February 2019, tele-expertise (which will allow doctors to consult other specialists for a specific case) should in turn be formalized, but first reserved for specific cases: patients affected by long-term illnesses (ALD), people with rare diseases, inhabitants of so-called sub-dense areas who do not have an attending physician, residents of EPHADs and inmates.
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