Technology is amazing.
Imagine this: You’re not able to get out of your bed because your stomach hurts and your legs are as wobbly as Ah Ma castella cakes.
But you need to get out of bed anyway because it’s a Monday. And your boss is someone who believes that employees are never sick unless they want to be.
So you crawl out of your bed, make your way to the nearest clinic that is a 10-minute walk away, and wait 40 minutes for your turn to see the doctor.
Like Aunt Mathilda would say, that’s life in SG, suck it up.
Aunt Mathilda…is wrong.
Telehealth
You can now video-call a Singapore-licensed doctor, get diagnosed and receive your MC and medicine; all without leaving your bed.
What was once impossible just a few years back is now something encouraged by the government.
Telehealth is, in a nutshell, selected medical services provided through telecommunication technologies.
Things like video-consulting with a doctor, booking medical appointments, accessing home care services, managing your health records, anything goes, really.
And the latest player to join in the Telehealth bandwagon is Doctor World, a health and wellness platform for users to access all their healthcare needs (including 24/7 teleconsultation) at their fingertips.
Here are 10 facts about this new healthcare app that just joined the Telehealth scene in 2019.
1. Doctor World: What Is It?
Available on both Android and iOS, the app offers a comprehensive suite of healthcare services including round-the-clock teleconsultation with trusted doctors who can prescribe medication, and issue sick leave and referral letters.
2. How Do I Get Started?
It only takes a few simple steps:
- First, sign up for an account with Doctor World. Input your personal details and debit/credit card information to get started.
- Then, launch a teleconsultation session.
- A short questionnaire comes on for you to share briefly on what’s plaguing you so that the doctor can get to the heart of the issue more accurately.
- The doctor will “see” you and converse with you via video-call.
A teleconsultation lasts up to 15-minutes in which the doctor will diagnose your medical condition based on based on your symptoms, presenting complaints and medical history.
To enhance the effectiveness of the teleconsultation, these medical equipment though optional are welcomed:
- A thermometer to measure your body temperature
- A glucometer to check your blood glucose level
- A sphygmomanometer (also known as a blood pressure machine) to check your blood pressure and heart rate
- A torch to illuminate whenever necessary
At the end of the consultation, the doctor will prescribe medication and issue a medical certificate if appropriate. If the doctor feels that a follow-up session is necessary, he/she can send you an electronic referral letter or schedule a follow-up consultation with you.
3. All Day. Every Day.
What’s best? The teleconsultation service is 24-hour. This means no matter what time of the night, you are able to get prompt round-the-clock medical attention using the app, including weekends and public holidays!
Plus, it’s very affordable (refer to #7).
4. Trusted Healthcare Providers
You can trust their doctors. They partner only with established healthcare providers in Singapore like Raffles Medical Group for teleconsultation to ensure that the quality of care and safety are never compromised. All doctors onboard Doctor World are registered in Singapore with the Singapore Medical Council. They can prescribe medication, issue sick leave and provide referral letters.
Doctor World is also in partnership with home care service providers like OmniMed Healthcare and Comfort Ambulance & Services.
5. Teleconsultation For A Whole Range Of Medical Conditions
The keyword here is non-emergency illnesses. You’ll be surprised that teleconsultation can actually help address these issues and more:
- Cough
- Cold
- Sore Throat
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Skin Irritation & Rashes
- Acne
- Headache & Migraine
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Menstrual Issues
- Gastric Problem
- Cold Sores
- Muscle Aches
- Heel Pain
- Conjunctivitis (without visual disturbance)
- Eyelid Problems
- Gout
- Well-controlled Chronic Illnesses (that have already been routinely followed-up)
In fact, some doctors use teleconsultation to review health screening results with their patients. What a time-saver!
If you are experiencing an emergency healthcare issue, don’t bother teleconsulting. Ensure that you proceed to the nearest A&E facility or call 995 immediately.
6. Medication Delivered to Your Doorstep
Okay, so the doctor has given you a diagnosis and you’re prescribed medication to ease your misery.
Do you have to go down to the nearest clinic, or buy your medication from a pharmacy nearby?
Nope, not with Doctor World.
Your medication and MC (if any) will be delivered right to your doorstep within 3 hours from the teleconsultation.
And the best part? There is no additional cost for the delivery as the cost is already factored into the consultation fee.
7. Prices
Doctor World consultation fee is priced at $18 nett round-the-clock which makes it more affordable than most in-clinic consultation fees. This is especially so when compared to the consultation fee one has to fork out when seeing a doctor late at night in a 24-hour clinic.
Do note that medication costs are not included in the consultation and will be charged separately.
8. A Seamless Experience
How do you make payment at the end of the teleconsultation? Who has the energy to dig out small change to make payment when unwell?
With Doctor World, don’t bother fishing out your wallet. It’s a cashless and paperless platform. Payment can be made via your stored debit/credit card or eWallet (you’d still need to give approval, don’t worry). An electronic copy of the receipt, along with your medical certificate is emailed to you.
9. Ready Access to Your Consultation Records
Can’t remember what the doctor said about your condition? Forgot how many pills to take per day? Doctor World has got you covered. Your consultation reports containing information on your diagnosis and medication are saved in your app so you can always access them whenever you want.
10. A One-Stop Solution
To say that Doctor World is just another teleconsultation app is like saying Singapore’s food culture is only about chilli crab and chicken rice.
Doctor World continues to develop the platform and launch new services in line with its commitment to shaping a holistic healthcare ecosystem through innovation. To date, the app offers users a comprehensive suite of healthcare services including home care services (think house calls and nursing care). Patients can also book medical appointments, manage health records, purchase health products and services, and get updates on the latest health issues through the platform.
More recently, the app just rolled out yet another new feature – a symptom checker – with the aim to provide a sound analysis of your medical conditions.
This feature comprises a detailed dynamic questionnaire that shortlists and narrows down the possible causes of what’s plaguing you. As you answer each question, the symptom checker will prompt follow-up questions until it has sufficient information to provide a suitable diagnosis.
So what are you waiting for? Download the Doctor World app now to kickstart your health journey. Say yes to 24/7 access to healthcare services without paying a premium for it!
This article was first published on goodyfeed.com and written in collaboration with Doctor World.
