In our busy lives, scheduling a doctor’s appointment may seem like a hassle. It hampers with our daily schedule, not to mention it’s not always convenient to travel to the doctor’s clinic and wait for hours, especially if you are feeling unwell.

While the recent pandemic has left scarring memories, it has brought with itself some good practices too – online doctor consultation being one of them. Today, by using the internet to our advantage, we can consult any doctor from the convenience of our homes. The digital technology has facilitated diagnosing, treating and preventing any non-emergency diseases by bringing the doctor closer to you.

Apps in Malaysia such as TrueCare2U enlist leading general physicians and specialists to help you seek consultation regarding any issue you might be having. Not only physical issues, you can also seek help for mental health issues from psychological consultants and psychiatrists.

However, having a successful online doctor consultation Malaysia is as much your responsibility as the doctor’s. Let’s discuss a few telemedicine tips and best practices that can help you make the best of your online consultation.

How to Prepare for Online Consultation

Taking a few small steps beforehand can help you prepare for your consultation well. Here are some of the things you can do:

• Write down a list of symptoms and medical history for consultation beforehand, to ensure you don’t miss any of them while talking to your doctor.
• Find a quiet space for telemedicine to ensure there’s minimal background noise while you talk to your doctor. It is also important to ensuring the area is properly lit so that the doctor can see you properly. Your doctor may ask you to show certain area in the video call or send pictures of affected areas to make the correct diagnosis.
• The success of this kind of consultation is largely dependent on online consultation technology. Make sure to check out the telemedicine requirements of the app you are using to prevent any last many hiccups.
• List down questions for the doctor so that you don’t forget anything. Remember, you will get only a few minutes to interact with the doctor. It is normal to forget a few things in such a short span of time.
• Research the basic details of your doctor to manage your expectations beforehand. The things you may look at are their years of experience, specialisation and service quality.

How to Have an Effective Communication with the Doctor?

Okay, so now that you’ve done your homework, let’s come to the actual consultation. All in all, it will last only a few minutes. Hence, it is most important to follow certain best practices to make the most of it.

• The success of an online doctor’s consultation largely depends on the consultation engagement between you and your doctor. Hence, it is very important to share accurate and complete information since partial information can lead to inaccurate diagnoses. Provide a clear symptom description from the list that you have made. Try not to downplay or exaggerate your symptoms. Remember no symptom is embarrassing when you’re talking to a doctor. On the contrary, sharing the right information can help you get the precise care that you need.
• An important aspect to share with your doctor is your medical history and lifestyle. Knowing about your daily routine, diet, habits, allergies and other aspects can help your doctor make the right diagnosis and devise a medical plan for you.
• Your doctor may ask you several questions to get to the root cause of your disease. Share health information and the relevant medical details as honestly as possible.
• Taking notes during consultation can enable you to accurately remember the main points of the consultation. Also remember, the online consultation time is as much your time as it is the doctor’s. Don’t shy away from asking your doctor questions that you may have.

Finally, once the consultation is over, don’t forget to prepare a consultation summary. This can help you remember what you spoke about during the consultation later or during your follow-up consultation.

Virtual Healthcare Benefits

Let’s take a quick look at the benefits of virtual healthcare, also known as telehealth or telemedicine.

Convenience and Comfort

The biggest benefit of online doctor consultation is convenience. Instead of visiting the doctor’s clinic and waiting in line for hours, especially when you are sick, you can sit at a comfortable place and seek help for your illness. You can schedule the appointment at your convenience to ensure it fits your busy schedule.

Presence of Family Support

None of us want to meet a doctor alone, especially when we’re not well. However, often, your family members can’t accompany you to the doctor’s clinic. Having an online consultation helps eliminate this issue. You can involve any of your family members or a friend who can support you through your recovery process.

Freedom to Consult Any Doctor

Sometimes, the doctor you want to consult may be located far away, making it difficult for you to reach your doctor. Online doctor consultation helps eliminate this issue by enabling you to consult any doctor no matter where they are located.

Makes Chronic Disease Management Easier

If you’re suffering from a chronic disease such as diabetes or hypertension, you will have to be under constant doctor’s care. However, visiting the doctor time and again may not be convenient. Online doctor consultation eliminates this issue.

Ideal for Senior Citizens

Online doctor’s consultations are ideal for senior citizens as it eliminates the need for them to travel long distances and wait at doctor’s chambers. With age, commuting can be an issue, which is resolved through virtual consultations.

Online Doctor’s Consultation with TrueCare2U

TrueCare2U, Malaysia’s leading online health portal helps you get access to a range of doctors from all over the country. From general physicians and specialised doctors to counsellors and dieticians – you can obtain consultation for a range of health issues from the comfort of your home.

Check out the app today to explore more!

Sources:

• https://www.theresolute.ai/post/10-things-to-do-before-and-during-an-online-doctor-consltation
• https://www.tataaia.com/blogs/life-insurance/what-is-online-medical-consultation
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/benefits-of-telemedicine
• https://thehospitalatmaayo.com/blog/choosing-best-online-consultation
• https://www.apollo247.com/blog/article/what-to-expect-from-online-doctor-consultation
• https://healthsy.app/all-category-blog/5-steps-to-follow-when-considering-an-online-doctor-consultation