Teleconsultation and Covid 19: everything you need to know

Teleconsultation and Covid 19: essential information

Although already used by many French people in the past, remote consultation via a computer or teleconsultation booth has grown considerably since the start of the epidemic we've been experiencing for over a year and a half now. Indeed, teleconsultation and Covid 19 go hand in hand, as the latter offers a number of advantages.

The ability to consult a doctor quickly without leaving home, avoiding the risk of coming into contact with other patients in your GP's waiting room, for example, all with the same reimbursement benefits as a conventional consultation: over 19 million teleconsultations have been recorded by the French health insurance system since the start of the pandemic.

Teleconsultation: how does it work?

The primary objective of teleconsultation for Covid 19 is to simplify access to care as much as possible for patients with coronavirus symptoms, but also for those who need to consult a doctor for any other reason. For this reason, the conditions for consulting a general practitioner remotely have been greatly relaxed by the Ministry of Health since the start of the pandemic. For example, it is no longer necessary to have seen the doctor in the office a few weeks previously to book an appointment remotely.

To access a Covid-19 teleconsultation session or a traditional remote consultation, all you have to do is go through a specialized platform that will put you in touch with a doctor without you having to leave your home. These consultations can be carried out from your computer, tablet or smartphone, or via teleconsultation kiosks or booths set up in certain pharmacies and local authorities wishing to facilitate access to healthcare for local residents.

Who can benefit from teleconsultation?

This is another advantage of teleconsultation: it can be used by absolutely anyone in France who wishes to do so. Indeed, while teleconsultation and Covid-19 go hand in hand, enabling patients to consult a doctor without leaving home when they are very ill or contagious, teleconsultation is ideal for many other situations. Whether you're an injured, disabled or elderly patient, or a parent wishing to consult a doctor or pediatrician without having to travel with your baby or child, teleconsultation is ideal.

In addition, this method makes it possible to combat medical deserts You no longer need to travel miles to find a doctor who is taking on new patients, you can be examined via teleconsultation for Covid-19, to renew a prescription or for any other reason. All you need is a device equipped with a camera and an Internet connection, or a teleconsultation booth at your local pharmacy or town hall.

Why have a teleconsultation for and during Covid-19?

As you can see, teleconsultation for Covid-19 is an ideal solution, as it enables patients to have a fast, reliable diagnosis without having to leave their homes, thereby considerably increasing patient comfort. But that's not the only advantage of this increasingly popular method.

Remote consultation as effective as in the office

When the French are asked about their relationship with remote consultation and any reservations they may have about this method, the answers are often the same: many people think that a remote Covid-19 teleconsultation cannot be as effective as an appointment in a doctor's surgery, as the doctor does not have the opportunity to physically examine the patient. However, as the doctors themselves say, it's not always necessary to have the patient face-to-face to diagnose an illness.

What's more, a large number of GPs saw their appointment books fill up extremely quickly from the start of the pandemic, as it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor at the first symptoms that may correspond to those of the coronavirus: cough, fever, fatigue, aches and pains, etc. The aim of teleconsultation for Covid 19 is therefore to enable every patient to obtain a rapid diagnosis, even if his or her GP is unable to see him or her, thus preventing a patient from spreading the virus for several days before having an appointment with his or her doctor.

Finally, more and more pharmacies and local authorities are opting for teleconsultation kiosks or booths, which enable even more reliable remote consultations. In fact, these booths are equipped with several connected devices, such as thermometers, blood pressure monitors, scales, stethoscopes and dermatoscopes, enabling them to obtain important data on their patients' state of health.

Limiting the spread of Covid-19 thanks to teleconsultation

When the first wave of the pandemic arrived, a whole series of measures had to be put in place to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible, and thus reduce the number of sick as much as possible. Among these measures, the most stringent was undoubtedly that of distancing, confinement and social distancing. During this period, only so-called essential outings were authorized, and going to see the doctor was obviously one of them, although a large number of French people chose to consult their doctor at a distance.

Going to the doctor necessarily means waiting in the waiting room, but it also means coming into contact with areas frequented by patients, making the risk of contamination quite high. Similarly, Covid-19 teleconsultation enables you to see a doctor quickly when you have symptoms of the disease, without the risk of contaminating other patients. A solution that not only offers greater comfort, but also limits the spread of the virus.

Teleconsultation during sick leave

The first thing to do when you have symptoms that could be linked to the coronavirus, such as fever, excessive fatigue or loss of taste or smell, is to isolate yourself as much as possible until you can be tested. Clearly, going to work in these conditions is not recommended. Although the French government has asked companies to give maximum priority to telecommuting for this very reason, it is not feasible for all companies. As a result, face-to-face employees must ask their doctor for a work stoppage while awaiting the results of their PCR test.

But can this work stoppage also be issued by a doctor during a Covid-19 teleconsultation session? The answer is yes, a doctor can prescribe a work stoppage which you will receive electronically, or which will be available on the printer of the teleconsultation terminal if you have chosen this method. Similarly, if you have mild symptoms, the doctor can issue you with a medical certificate so that you can only work remotely, if possible. Otherwise, you'll be off work until you receive the results of your PCR test.

Good to know: a Covid-19 teleconsultation session can also be used to obtain a prescription for a PCR test, giving you access to dedicated hours at screening centers for a faster result.

Easy remote prescription dispensing

Since the start of the pandemic, doctors' surgeries have not been empty, for one simple reason: it's essential to consult a doctor at the very first symptoms that could be linked to the coronavirus. However, this does have consequences, not least in terms of waiting times for appointments. This is a major inconvenience, whether for patients who need a prescription for a PCR test quickly, or for those who need to obtain a prescription for a completely different reason. This is why many people have decided to opt for Covid-19 teleconsultation.

Teleconsultation offers a host of advantages, including rapid appointments, consultation at home from your computer or at a nearby terminal (pharmacy, town hall, etc.), reliable diagnosis and immediate prescription. So, whether you're looking for medication to treat coronavirus symptoms, a prescription refill or medication for any other reason, you can use remote consultation.

How does reimbursement for a remote consultation work?

More good news: consultations carried out remotely, whether for a Covid-19 teleconsultation or for any other reason, are fully reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie, and have been since September 15, 2018. A decision by the French government that has largely contributed to the democratization of remote consultation, now much more in demand than it was before this date. So don't worry: you can carry out a teleconsultation session for Covid-19 from your computer and benefit from the same reimbursement rate as if you had visited your regular doctor.

Please note, however, that if you wish to consult a specialist such as a dermatologist, pediatrician or pneumologist, for example, you will need to follow the "parcours de soin" to obtain reimbursement from the Assurance Maladie. This means that, as with a physical consultation, you will only be reimbursed if your GP has referred you to a specialist, writing you a prescription for the appointment. The reimbursement process is exactly the same for a Covid-19 teleconsultation as for an in-office consultation: you pay for your consultation, which is then reimbursed by the social security system.

Good to know: if you've just moved to a new commune or wish to want to register a new GP? If so, you'll need to make an initial appointment with the doctor, who will be able to complete an online form to register you as one of his or her new patients. You can then consult the doctor remotely, but the first appointment must take place in the office, so that the doctor can meet you and discuss your state of health, history, etc., with you.

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