What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine is the practice of providing clinical care to patients at a distance using telecommunications technology (ICT). Telemedicine can take many forms including secure phone and video calls, messaging or even being able to monitor a patient remotely. The earliest recorded use was in the 19th century when electrocardiograph data was transmitted over telephone wires. At the time the telephone was invented, it was even suggested that it could be used to reduce unnecessary hospital visits.

Longer WHO definition:

The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care profes-sionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities

Is telemedicine technology difficult to use?

You may not know it but you may have already engaged with telemedicine if you have ever called your doctor or received care instructions over the phone. Ease of use may depend on the specific application. However, most systems, especially ours, are designed to be intuitive. If you or your doctor has basic familiarity with online tools such as video calls and conferencing, it should be fairly straightforward to use our telemedicine application.

Is telemedicine private and secure?

Yes, but only when it is conducted using an encrypted system that is specifically designed for handling such conversations between doctor and patient. Many communication apps like Skype, Whatsapp, Facetime may not have video that is secure enough.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has provided guidelines and registration of telemedicine solutions. These guidelines ensure that consultations happen in a safe and secure manner. We have taken the necessary steps to ensure that our system complies with the requirements and prevents unauthorised access to data.

However, as the patient, you still have a roll to play in ensuring your privacy.

  • Do not share your mDaktari credentials. Also, store them in a secure place if necessary.
  • While you could do a visit from anywhere, it is important to follow the recommendation to take your consult from a place that ensures enough privacy to have a conversation with your doctor eg. in a room with a door you can close.
  • You may have somebody accompany for the call if you need their assistance.

Who benefits from telemedicine?

There are three main beneficiaries of telemedicine:

Patients: Telemedicine gives patients the opportunity to receive care without a trip to the doctor’s office. This provides greater flexibility in where and when consultations can be had. Patients can benefit by saving time and costs of commuting between their home, workplace and the doctor’s office. Additionally, it can reduce the risk of exposure to illness that can occur during visits to clinics or hospitals. With on-demand solutions such as ours, the time to connecting with a doctor is greatly reduced.

Providers: Scheduled telemedicine encounters allow doctors to work more efficiently. By scheduling video consults, the risk of missed appointments is reduced. Telemedicine allows for clinical care to be provided over distance, thus greatly increasing access and can be viewed as a value-add to their services by providing more options to connect with patients.

The Healthcare System: Even if you never use telemedicine yourself, you will likely benefit from the practice. The efficiency of telemedicine will reduce wait-times for in-person visits, help keep people with non-urgent conditions out of the emergency room, and improve the overall health of the population.

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