Take out your smartphone and say "ah ".
While this is an early stage of the new wave of telemedicine, some Canadians can now avoid going to the doctor's office by using cameras on their mobile phones.
At Telus Health, which launched a new video link between patients and specific doctors in BC, BC is the only province to pay for doctors for such visits.
Other companies are experimenting with similar services, but Telus wants to be a major player in Canada's booming consumer market --
For medical technology.
"I think we are far ahead of any competitor in Canada," Telus vice-
President Sihota said in an interview in Vancouver.
Over the past decade, the owners of Telus and Koodo wireless networks have spent $2.
5 billion to build a national medical record business.
Telus Health estimates that more than half of Canada's general practitioner offices use electronic medical record software in their offices;
More than 60 pharmacies use their pharmacy management software.
Telus Health now joins Babylon, including smartphone video access, in its lineup.
"This is a key strategic priority for our organization and (
Telus CEO Darren point Wieser)
Sihota, deputy to Telus, said.
President of Consumer Health
Telus is a Canadian partner in London
Babylon Health Center headquarters
One of many companies that develop smartphone apps, designed to help consumers diagnose their symptoms.
What makes Telus service unique about New Babylon is that it is able to connect with doctors covered by B through interactive videosC.
Payment system for medical services.
"Like you go for a walk --
According to Sihota, at the clinic and see a doctor.
The patient does not need to use the Telus wireless phone, and the video doctor does not charge for the visit.
Ultimately, Telus hopes to generate revenue by selling a technology platform to general practitioners and other health professionals. Dr.
Ed Brown, chief executive of the Ontario Telemedicine Network, said the form of video doctor visits has been around for many years.
"For example, patients living in a small town can go to the hospital to see an expert without traveling.
But Brown agreed that what Telus did was "a little different ".
First of all, it uses a wide range of mobile technologies available, and patients can use wireless services that are fast enough anywhere.
Babylon in Telus is also linked to general practitioners rather than experts.
Brown said that the health system in Ontario does not have a billing code to pay for the doctor's telemedicine service, but OTN is working to overcome this obstacle.
"We want to really put this part in mainstream health care," Brown said . " He is funding a pilot project in 5 of Ontario's 14 health care regions, with 277 doctors and 30,000
Every time I go to see a doctor, he says, "it's OK for some things, but, to a large extent, we also like people to have direct access to their own doctors. ”OTN —
A provincial-funded Africafor-
Profit institutions-
Is working with Novari Health and believes the study of cell phone connectivity between doctors in Ontario and their patients.
"Patients can send text messages to their doctors and upgrade to a video or audio call if needed," Brown said . ".
Only a small percentage of patients in the pilot program use video features, he said, relying mainly on text messages.
"Babylon may have some different features that might give them an advantage, but I think there is a lot of competition in this area. ” Brown said.
From Sihota's point of view, video consultation has a great advantage over traditional doctor's office visits.
For example, she says patients can replay virtual consultations with Babylonian doctors for themselves, trusted family members or individual doctors.
If the GP referred the patient to an expert, the service provides notification at every step of the process and gives the patient the opportunity to ask questions in the process.
Telus will not sell the data collected by its Babylonian service, and it is taking important precautions to protect privacy.
Sihota says consumers of their private health program have to pay for additional types of services.
"We have mental health experts.
"We will have nutritionists, nutritionists and other related health professionals," Sihota predicts . ".
"But for the family doctor service that we are talking about today. . .
Consumers do not charge.