Online doctor consultation is becoming more popular as a way for patients to consult with their doctor. It is a great alternative to visiting the doctor in person and offers many advantages.
One of the most important benefits is that you can get an appointment with a doctor at any time. This is ideal for those who cannot make it to the doctor due to work or other commitments.
1. Convenience
One of the most significant advantages of online consultation is that patients can consult a doctor anytime, anywhere. This is particularly helpful for people who are unable to travel to clinics due to disability.
Another great benefit is that patients can save their medical history and reports digitally so they can be accessed easily. In addition, patients can also schedule their consultations on a time that suits them best.
If you are a healthcare practitioner, it is important to offer online consultations. However, you must make sure that the technology is suited to your practice.
2. Anonymity
The anonymity of online consultation can be useful when discussing sensitive matters and taboo topics. It can also be a benefit for people who suffer from mental health issues, such as depression and self-harm.
It can also protect the speaker from negative or abusive behavior and prevent retaliation. However, researchers have found that some people are more likely to engage in abusive behaviors when they are anonymous.
Another issue with anonymity is that it can encourage trolls to participate in discussions without fear of punishment or consequences. These trolls can disrupt the discussion and cause people to avoid participating in future conversations.
3. Saves Time
Online consultation saves time and hassle by eliminating the need to drive, ride an Uber or take public transport. It also allows you to avoid the stress of waiting in long queues at a doctor’s office.
It is also an effective tool for the elderly or those who cannot travel to doctors’ offices from their homes. They can consult their doctors online from their mobile devices.
This type of consultation is an ideal way to get instant medical assistance when you are feeling sick or have an ailment that requires urgent attention. You can also get fit notes and prescriptions delivered via email or SMS, meaning you can pick up your medications on a convenient day and time.
4. Cost-Effective
Getting medical advice from a healthcare professional can be expensive. Moreover, people often have to travel long distances to reach the clinic or hospital.
Online consultation is a great way to get medical advice without spending any money. In addition, it is also a great way to save time and energy.
In a study, researchers found that patients who received specialty e-consultation rather than face-to-face consultation had lower total health care costs at 3 months. This translates to about $110 million in annual savings for all 11 studied specialties.
5. Accessibility
When it comes to engaging residents online, the accessibility of your website is a major consideration. The recent rise of lawsuits based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has increased the pressure on healthcare providers to ensure that their websites are accessible to everyone, especially people with disabilities.
Web accessibility is defined as designing content to be inclusive of people who have visual, motor, and auditory, speech or cognitive disabilities. This can improve usability for everyone in general and may prevent litigation.
Conclusion
Online consultation platforms should be designed with accessibility in mind and be WCAG 2.1 compliant to ensure that they’re inclusive of people with disabilities. This includes ensuring that screen readers and keyboard navigation are supported, and that all interface elements are consistently sized to accommodate different devices.
