UK doctors offer consults via iPhone FaceTime

By: Brian Dolan | Jun 15, 2010        

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123AAAFacetimeLast week 3G Doctor’s business development lead David Doherty, an active leader in the mobile health community, announced that iPhone 4 users in the UK and Ireland will be able to conduct video consultations with doctors via the 3G Doctor service by using Apple’s new video calling app, FaceTime.

“We’re proud to announce that from [June 24, 2010] we’ll be making the 3G Doctor services available to UK and Irish patients who have bought the new iPhone 4 from Apple,” Doherty wrote on the 3G Doctor blog. “No need to download anything, simply visit our secure mobile website, top up your account (£35 per consultation), select or enter your problem and complete the medical questionnaire, and wait for one of our informed registered doctors to video call you to consult on your problems.”

A chiropractor in St. Louis, Missouri recently blogged about the potential the iPhone 4 would have to change patient-doctor relationships if video consultations became available:

“It can save patients valuable time and money by not wasting an entire evening in the ER for minor problems,” Dr. Adam Tanase wrote. “It can be an added revenue stream for doctors offering direct video consultations. For patients, it can even be a new way to ‘meet’ prospective doctors before deciding whether or not to schedule an appointment. The way doctors and patients communicate is changing fast. More and more doctors today are using email, blogs, and Twitter to communicate with patient.”

Doherty seemed to largely agree with Tanase’s comments as he posted them on the 3G Doctor blog. Interestingly, Doherty added an important caveat to his post about the 3G Doctor service and FaceTime: “The only different advice we recommend for iPhone 4 customers is that they are careful to ensure their mobile remains connected within a secure private WiFi area while they are awaiting our doctor’s mobile video call.”

Source: 3G Doctor Blog

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  • http://mHealthInsight.com Mr David Doherty, 3G Doctor

    Hi Brian,

    Thanks for your post.

    Could you please correct my title/position to Mr David Doherty, Business Development, 3G Doctor.

    Thanks in advance,

    David

  • http://mobihealthnews.com Brian Dolan

    Hi David,

    I have been confusing you and John Doherty (your brother?) for a while now it seems like! My apologies — corrected.

    Brian

  • Thomas Banacek

    So, exactly why would one need to video call a doctor vs. just talking to them?

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  • David Doherty, mHealth Insight

    Hi Thomas,

    Thanks for the interesting question, sorry it took me so long to notice it.

    Before my explanation will make any sense you’ll need to appreciate that with 3G Doctor patients are offered the opportunity to consult with an informed registered Doctor. In order to provide this patients are required to answer an interactive questionnaire and explain what they would like to consult with a Doctor. This important information along with their Medical History is shared with the Doctor before the video consultation.

    From this starting point we find 3G Smartphones offer enormous value above and beyond what can be achieved with basic voice only mobiles. These benefits include:

    > Data access enables the support of continuity of care eg. patients can give their history and get a written record of their consultation without having to rely on any other equipment:

    http://3gdoctor.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/why-focus-on-using-3g-smartphones-to-deliver-healthcare-wont-basic-phones-do/

    > Patients can be given assurance that they are recieving the undivided attentions of their concerned Doctor:

    http://3gdoctor.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/conference-call-confessions-suggest-another-reason-for-patient-interest-in-video-calling/

    > Video not only enhances communication but adds trust. In a brand new Doctor/Patient relationship this is very important as it can quickly help patients feel more reassured and comfortable:

    http://3gdoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/video-calling-helping-arizona-hospitals-to-better-serve-spanish-speaking-and-deaf-patients/

    > Not only have we found that video increases job satisfaction for remote consulting Doctors but there is also strong evidence that suggests healthcare professionals work more effectively when they can see their patients:

    http://3gdoctor.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/why-does-the-doctor-need-to-see-the-patient/

    > Video also adds value to the 3G Doctor training process and this not only improves the patient experience, outcomes and helps ensures patient safety:

    http://3gdoctor.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/the-power-of-video-calling-to-help-us-teach-healthcare-workers/

    Hope you find the links helpful…

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