Recently, Peggy (not her real name) came down with a sore throat and cough she just could not shake off. She went to a nearby clinic but, a few days later, still had symptoms and needed relief.
As it was a public holiday and her family physician was not available, she decided to try a telehealth service. All she needed to do was to click “Ask Health Question” on the TELEME healthcare mobile app and describe her symptoms.
Within five minutes she had a reply from the online doctor, one of the many who are on call seven days a week, including on public holidays.
While Peggy also had the option to video call or text the doctor, she chose to chat via voice call. The doctor listened to her symptoms and prescribed some medication and a cough suppressant.
As her regular pharmacy was near her workplace, over 10km away from home, the doctor recommended one that was closer to her house, and offered to have them deliver the medications directly to her.
Peggy chose to do a self pickup and, using the TELEME app, was able to see a list of pharmacies close to her home. With the doctor’s digital signature, she was able to forward her e-prescription to the pharmacy using the app.
Within 15 minutes, she got a call from the pharmacy that her medication was ready. Peggy was able to go over and pay for her meds, after which she returned home, took the prescribed dose, and went to bed.
All in all, her telehealth experience only took about 15 minutes. She says it is a great resource when one is dealing with non-serious illnesses that don’t require physical examinations such as the common cold, flu symptoms, mild allergies, rashes, or itchy eyes.
If one has never used a telehealth application before, it’s helpful to know what to expect. On a call, healthcare providers can:
- give advice or provide a management plan;
- write an e-prescription with a digital signature for your pharmacist to get medication; and/or
- write a referral letter to your family doctor to get a physical checkup and examination.
As a telehealth patient, you can upload photos of your condition or describe your symptoms, and get access to an online doctor within 10 minutes.
Peggy recommends downloading the TELEME app. Registering couldn’t be easier and it only takes a couple of minutes to create an account. You can also get access to free health tips by reading the articles written by doctors.
She promotes telemedicine as it is a safe, secure and convenient way to access health advice in the comfort of one’s home or office. A patient can even call during their lunch break if they cannot get to see their GP physically.
The best part is, there are no queues. This saves you time as you will have access to a doctor almost immediately.
Telehealth services are especially useful for those who live in rural areas, as long as there’s a stable internet connection. Peggy hopes her experience will encourage others to give it a try the next time they need health advice.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life. Email [email protected] to share your story.
Click here to read more health educational articles or download the app to chat with a health practitioner.