Teleconsultation 

What is a teleconsultation and who is it for?

The teleconsultation is a consultation carried out at a distance, which allows the patient and doctor to interact in real time. It can be very advantageous for patients who live far away, such as in another city or even another country.

It may also be the best option for patients who can't find the time to travel to the clinic for a face-to-face consultation and therefore prefer this type of service.

We are still living through a pandemic, during which innovations have emerged in all areas, including medicine. With social distancing and travel restrictions, a good alternative to these constraints has been online care, via video call consultation.

Although we initially resorted to online consultations to assist our patients during this period, the truth is that these had such a positive outcome that we decided to continue with them. type of service.

As well as helping people who live abroad and would like to make an appointment with our doctors, it's also important to consider the convenience of being able to make an appointment from the comfort of your own home, without having to spend time in traffic and travelling to the clinic. Naturally, many people prefer to travel and meet the doctor directly, but it's always good to know that we have another alternative and the freedom to choose the method that best suits us.

Since this is currently a hot topic, Dr Mariana da Rocha Martins helped us answer the most frequently asked questions. They are:

- How do teleconsultations work at LMR?  

Remote consultations are carried out in an objective and user-friendly manner:

•  Providing detailed information about the procedure to be carried out: patients are informed by the doctor about all the specifics of the surgery (including the preparations, the procedure itself and all the care to be taken in the post-operative period), so that the patient can have a better understanding of how the surgery will take place and all the care she will have to take before and after the procedure.
• Visualising the potential result after surgery: the patient can send photos of the area where they want to have surgery and, with the use of innovative and revolutionary software that makes it possible to visualise the “before” and “after” of plastic surgery in real time, patients can get an idea of the results they can achieve with surgery, thus managing their expectations in a more realistic way. The photos are taken before, but also during the online consultation, with the support of this software. There will be a conversation between the patient and the doctor that will help define the desired results.

- What platform is used to make the video call enquiries?

The Zoom platform is the one we currently use at the LMR Clinic. It's a secure video call platform that doctors and patients access to carry out teleconsultations in real time.

 - In what situations can you use an online consultation?

The online consultation can be used both for the first appointment and for follow-up appointments.

Depending on the procedure you want, you can also have a pre-surgery follow-up to make everything clear without the need for several trips to the clinic.

All consultations that your doctor considers meet the necessary conditions to be carried out remotely, without compromising the quality of healthcare, can be carried out online.

- How much does a tele-consultation cost?

Currently, our video call consultations cost 80 euros, the same price as face-to-face consultations.

- Can I request a remote consultation?

Yes. By making an appointment with our team, you can request an online or face-to-face consultation, at the patient's discretion and subject to the doctor's availability.

- When can a tele-consultation be booked?

Teleconsultations can be booked at any time, depending on the vacancies available for each particular doctor.

- How can you book an appointment online?

The teleconsultation can be booked by calling us or via our website. You can fill in the contact form and we will call you back. Our team will get in touch with the patient to make the appointment and clarify any doubts that may exist. 

- How long does a tele-consultation last?

On average, a teleconsultation takes around 45 minutes, although the duration can vary depending on the complexity of the procedure to be carried out, or any specific question that may arise during the consultation and which requires more in-depth study of the topic.

- How can I access the scheduled tele-consultation?

On the day of the appointment, the patient will receive an email with the link to the appointment, which she can access via the website or the Zoom app itself. The day before the appointment, we also send an SMS reminding the patient of the appointment time.

- Can I have companions with me during the teleconsultation?

Yes, there are no restrictions on the presence of companions during the video call consultation, as long as this does not jeopardise the functioning of the consultation.

- What do I need to access the online consultation?

To access an online consultation, it must be booked. To make the appointment, the patient must have one of the following electronic devices, with an internet connection of minimum speed and quality:

• computer with camera and speakers
• mobile phone
• tablet

- Can I get a reason for my tele-consultation?

Yes. Patients can ask the doctor for proof of their attendance, even if it takes place virtually.

- What are the advantages of video calls?

This form of online medicine allows you to

• promote other means of access to health care for citizens;
• optimise the management provided by the clinic;
• reducing the number of journeys made by patients, promoting sustainability and improving personal life management.
  
  

- What are the limitations of an online consultation?

There are some limitations to carrying out consultations in person.

One of them would be the impossibility for the doctor to have a general perception of the patient, visualising height, width and other important factors for surgery.

When this happens, the doctor schedules a second appointment with the patient so that they can meet in person and finalise the details of the intended surgery.