Телемедицина: телеконсултације, телеекспертиза…: како иде?

Since September 15, 2018, the teleconsultation has been reimbursed by the Health Insurance. Parents can turn to their general practitioner or their usual pediatrician if he is voluntary, of course, for the teleconsultations. The child must also have been seen within the last twelve months by this same doctor. But in order not to slow down telemedicine, the law is flexible and provides for exceptions for those under 16. For example, if your pediatrician cannot be reached or it is late, you can go through another doctor who has been recommended to you or via a platform such as https://www.pediatre-online.fr/. Namely: tele-expertise, which allows a doctor to request a colleague for a medical opinion, has also been reimbursed since February 10, 2019.

Telemedicine: the incredible boom linked to the Covid-19 crisis

In 2020, the health crisis due to the coronavirus has of course encouraged the development of teleconsultation. Today, more than one in two doctors practice.

In February 2020, there were 40 reimbursed teleconsultation acts. This figure jumped to КСНУМКС милиона in April, in full confinement, then to 1 million acts per month during the summer of 2020.

Other reasons may explain the massive use of teleconsultations:

• Easy access throughout the country, including in areas where there are few doctors.
• A practice that is becoming commonplace: more than one лекар out of two now use teleconsultation.
• Simplified access to consultation: by appointment, at home, without having to travel, for yourself or with your child.
• For children, many pediatricians and doctors arrange time slots for urgent consultations (sick child, etc.). And the consultation platforms have wide schedules.
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Teleconsultation: how does it work?

You call your doctor and it is he who sets the teleconsultation appointment at a specific time when you will connect, you, via your smartphone, tablet or computer, him via his computer equipped for videoconferencing. He will be able to zoom in on the areas to be examined, a rash, pimples, etc. A breakthrough since until now, via telecommunication platforms, it was parents who had to zoom in with their smartphone.

On the schedule side, these are those of your doctor. In the evening, you can also join the teleconsultation platforms available late, until 23 p.m. or midnight.

An alternative to emergencies if the general condition of the child remains good

More and more parents are already consulting by phone, video or chat to relieve their woozy little one. “80% of children who arrive at the emergency room in the evening actually have nothing to do with it,” said Dr Arnault Pfersdorff.

What is the advantage of teleconsultation?

“It’s perfectly legitimate to be worried about your baby. We pediatricians understand this parental anxiety. Hence the interest of these remote consultations, which allow the pediatrician, fairly quickly and with very specific questions, to disentangle the situation. In general, after 7 minutes, we solved the problem! », Explains Dr Arnault Pfersdorff. In rare cases, faced with a suspicion of meningitis for example, the pediatrician will immediately refer the parents to the hospital.

Testimonial: Charline, 34 years old, mother of Gabriel, 17 months old.

“One evening at 23 pm my son, Gabriel, 17 months old, woke up screaming. 39 ° C fever, pimples. And a very late hour to reach his pediatrician. Emergencies are 30 minutes away in Aubagne. He would have had to go out in the night, take his big sister on board… I had downloaded the Hellocare app just in case, and I went for it! Less than 5 minutes later, I had a doctor on video conference. I showed him, thanks to the flashlight function of my smartphone, Gabriel’s buttons. The diagnosis is made: chickenpox. I was reassured. And by the way, a big potential stupidity, avoided, since the doctor recommended to me above all not to give Advil on chickenpox, but Doliprane. “

In which case is teleconsultation used?

For everything we call “bobology”! “Most of the calls are about feeding problems, regurgitation, breastfeeding difficulties, or rashes. In this case, the parents send us a photo, ”continues the pediatrician. The doctor directs parents to the most suitable medicines they have on hand in the medicine cabinet to provide immediate relief to their baby for the night. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for the pediatrician to recommend a “real” additional consultation the next day. For example “if we suspect an otitis, the child must be auscultated”, explains Dr Provot, of Pediatre-Online.

Peak calls are in the morning between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and in the evening between 19 p.m. and 23 p.m., and also at lunchtime. At times when the offices are closed.

How does a remote consultation work?

“Consultations are often shorter, straight to the point and with less civility. “But the relationship remains very human, especially in the face of young parents who need reassurance and are grateful to find us,” said Dr. Michel Paolino, of Mesdocteurs.com. “On the other hand, as soon as you pronounce the magic formula Nothing serious, they often shorten and hang up (the meter is running!), Even though you were not necessarily finished! », Analyzes the doctor. Who adds that the virtual also attracts hypochondriacs, who no longer have the barrier of the medical secretariat and call back at the slightest symptom!

Telemedicine: How long does it cost?

Exactly the same price as in-office consultations: € 32 for a pediatrician consultation 0-6 years old, € 28 for a 6-16 year old, € 25 for a general practitioner – excluding fee overruns, € 46 for a complex consultation and € 60 very complex consultation.

Either you pay nothing if you benefit from third-party payment, or you pay by credit card online and you will be reimbursed by Health Insurance then, exactly as in a classic consultation.

The mutual will then reimburse you, as usual. The doctor, for his part, subscribes, for around thirty euros per month, to telemedicine companies such as Pediatre-Online, Mesdocteurs, Mediaviz, Qare, which gives him the technical possibility of teleconsulting from his computer.

Testimonial: Lucie, 34 years old, mother of Diane, 11 months old

“I am a soldier in aeronautics and I do not necessarily control my schedule. I do not want to launch a call to the pediatrician to make an appointment at the slightest inflamed gum. Teleconsultation by Skype allows you to see the doctor and show him the child. Because even if I am not anxious, I like to know on which criterion of urgency I must react ”.

Tele-expertise, the other advantage of telemedicine

In addition to teleconsultation, tele-expertise is another face of telemedicine, which is also experiencing a meteoric rise. What does tele-expertise consist of? During a consultation, your doctor seeks the advice of a colleague remotely, thanks to the video. He can send him medical images (MRI, ultrasounds, x-rays, etc.). These exchanges take place by secure messaging, and with your consent.