Online Doctor Consultation: Benefits and Where To Find One

Online doctor consultation has been improving over the years, advancing with the pace of available technology. Today, more than ever, many people are beginning to prefer solutions that afford them the ability to get things done remotely. From online shopping to online banking, telemedicine solutions like  Online doctor consultations are here to stay.

Key Points

• Online doctor consultation is a branch of telemedicine that allows patients to talk to a doctor via text messages, chat, calls, video chat, or a combination of any of these.
• Online doctor consultation offers several advantages over traditional in-person doctor visits, including convenience, time savings, cost-effectiveness, safety, improved access for those with disabilities, and faster and unconventional access to healthcare.
• Common health conditions that can be treated through online doctor consultation include infections, allergies, asthma, pain, sexual health problems, hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and more.
• If you have any health concerns, speak to a doctor online on KompleteCare.
• KompleteCare is a telemedicine platform that provides you with an excellent medium to talk to a doctor online within Nigeria without the hassles of going to the hospital physically.

How Does Online Doctor Consultation Work?

Online doctor consultation involves talking to a doctor via text messages, chat, calls, video chat, or a combination of any of these. It entails the typical consultation with a doctor in a hospital but this time without face-to-face contact.

Similar questions are asked about health conditions by the online doctor. In cases where physical examination is required, the patient does it with guidance from the online doctor. 

Investigations can be ordered which the patient can take at a lab of their choice. Medications can also be prescribed by the doctor for treatment purposes.

Advantages of Online Doctor Consultation

Convenience

• You don’t have to wake up by 4am to be first in line in the usually crowded Nigerian hospitals. 
• No seating on uncomfortable chairs or standing in line. 
• No sitting close to other patients with unknown disease conditions or smell (due to an underlying disease). 
• No fear of stigmatization if your case is sensitive (e.g., infections like HIV or mental health).
• Online consultation makes your session with the doctor memorable and you have the choice to choose where you want to be during the consultation and also the time of the consultation.

Time-saving

• You have total control of the consultation time. You could even work it into your schedule for the day and not miss out at work, picking up the kids from school, or going for other extracurricular activities.

Cost-effective

• Considering the rising cost of goods and services due to inflation, an online doctor consultation helps you to save money in terms of transportation costs to the hospital. It equally gives you valuable time to make money and not spend valuable time in hospital queues.

Safe

• Online consultation has helped a lot in social distancing, not only for the COVID-19 infection but for other disease conditions that could be gotten from contact with other patients like upper respiratory tract infections, skin diseases like chicken pox, and even more deadly infections like Lassa fever or Ebola. 

Improved access for those with disability.

• Unfortunately, the design of most Nigerian health facilities does not favor people with disabilities. This makes it a difficult task for both the patient and their relatives when they present for check-ups. Online consultation makes check-ups easy for everyone.

Faster and Unconventional Access to Care

• You can be attended to outside work hours for conditions not deemed life-threatening.

Reduced Waiting Time

Traditional healthcare usually makes patients wait for a long time to see a doctor. This can be very frustrating, especially for patients who need medical attention urgently. Fortunately, online doctor consultations reduce the waiting time significantly. Patients can easily and speedily book a session with a doctor, especially if they have troubling symptoms.

Common Health Issues You Can Treat Through Online Doctor Consultation

Most health conditions can be treated online except in life-threatening cases or where a physical procedure is necessary to aid treatment such as surgery. Common health conditions that can be consulted online include:

Infections

• Urinary tract infection
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Skin infections & rashes
• Sexually transmitted infections e.g. Herpes

Allergies

Asthma

Pain

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Abdominal pain

Sexual health problems such as erectile dysfunction.

Hypotension

Hypertension

Diabetes

Sickle cell anemia

Peptic ulcer disease

Hepatitis

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (follow-up) 

Kidney stones

Headaches

Fever: from malaria and typhoid etc

Nausea& vomiting

Diarrhoea

Constipation

Hair Loss

Oral/Dental health problems

Eye problems like red eye, and eye itch

Minor injuries can be attended to with an available first aid kit at home.

Menstrual problems even from conditions like fibroid

Infertility in both males and females

The first trimester of pregnancy

Post-partum depression

Menopausal symptoms

Breast lumps 

Stroke (follow up)

Mental health disorders like Mild anxiety & depression

Sleep problems

Stress 

Epilepsy (follow-up)

Note that once a condition is deemed life-threatening, the patient should be immediately taken to the nearest hospital (not necessarily the hospital you are registered with) for immediate resuscitation and care.

How to Consult an Online Doctor

With the advantages provided by online consultation, you would be able to see a doctor at any time and anywhere using your smartphone or personal computer. You are deemed fit to speak to a doctor online as long as your health issue is not life-threatening or a medical emergency

Do you have any of the health issues listed above? Speak to a Doctor on Kompletecare now.  

KompleteCare is a telemedicine platform that provides you with an excellent avenue to talk to a doctor online within Nigeria without the hassles of going to the hospital physically.

All you have to do is Sign Up, schedule the time of your consultation, and Talk to a Doctor in a matter of minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of online doctor consultation?

The benefits of online doctor consultation include:

• Convenience.
• Cost-effectiveness.
• Improved health and safety culture.
• Access to medical experts and specialists who may not be readily available in your area.
• Low workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Knowledge and awareness of good health and safety practices.

What is an online medical?

An online medical is an online/virtual/ telemedicine doctor who offers face-to-face telehealth medical services and doctor consultations via video calls, phone calls, or text on a phone or computer.

Can telemedicine give antibiotics?

Telemedicine is a low-risk option for certain routine treatments that are usually not severe or life-threatening like acne or pain. Therefore, you can get medications or antibiotics without seeing a doctor in person.

Can I call a doctor to ask a question?

Of course, you can call a doctor over the phone to ask important questions. Provided that you respect their privacy and call only when it is very important or urgent.

Can telemedicine diagnose?

Yes, certified medical practitioners can diagnose and treat patients remotely using telemedicine. If the situation is severe, they will refer you to a nearby clinic or hospital for proper treatment.