TELEMEDICINE

As a physician in the fraternity, it is my pleasure that I frequently receive health-related calls from brethren elsewhere in the jurisdiction. Be it a consult of their own or for their relatives we try to accommodate as much as we can.

But what if some brethren do not have a 'Kuyang Doc' to call? Imagine you are not feeling well or maybe you just have some questions about your health that bothers you, the instinct is to schedule an appointment with a physician.

During this period of health uncertainty with the stigma of the Covid-19 virus lurking in anywhere, many are afraid to seek medical attention be it in the hospitals or in the clinics. With the current advances in our communication technology, the Medical field offers Telemedicine. It is the practice of caring for patients remotely when the provider and the patient are not physically present with each other by using modern technology like telephones, smartphones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets, patients can now consult with doctors without seeing each other face-toface. It really i s no longer new, but it has become more popular during the pandemic period. The practice enhances and reinforces the provision of primary care services to the community. Giving faster, safer, cheaper, and more efficient access to medical consultations. It dramatically improves healthcare by ease of accessibility by reducing the need to travel to medical institutions and find the appropriate doctor for a specific illness. In some instances, it can also provide clinical support when needed anytime, reaching a wider range of patients anywhere in the archipelago.

Alternative way to access health-care - There are many online apps that offer tele-consultations. Some institutions such as hospitals also offer their services to patients thru telemedicine. Should you have any concerns that needs medical attention, doctors of varying specialties may attend to you. It may be via phone call, video call, chat, email, or any other convenient form of

communication. In most of cases, a good internet connection is a requirement for a smooth consultation.

Just to give a good example, in the DOH government hospital where I work as a medical officer, telemedicine is already a part of the hospital system. JBL Memorial General Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga has 2 existing programs namely Tele Konsulta (TK) and Online

The difference between the former from the latter is that Tele Konsulta is a consult thru telephone calls while Online Konsulta is a consult thru video-chat.

This system requires an active working telephone is available in every clinical department of the hospital. Department phone numbers are disseminated thru pamphlets and leaflets. Is also posted in the hospital website. Once you call the number of your clinical department of concern, a doctor will attend to you right away. He can provide expert advice and even prescribe over the counter (OTC) medicines. In cases where a more thorough medical attention is needed, the doctor will then schedule you for a face-to-face consult. All these services are free of charge as it is a program of our DoH hospital. But not all telemedicine services are free especially services owned by private institutions. Professional fees and other fees may be charged if private platforms are used with online consultation fee of doctors ranging from Php 400 to Php 1000 or more depending on your arrangement with them. Online consultation can accommodate electronic payment options. This will include but not limited to credit cards, debit cards and other SIM card-based payment transactions of money transfers.

Telemedicine is a good way to reach out and extend medicine to the community but not all cases can be managed this way. For example, emergency cases still entail emergent medical management in the hospital. As physical examination in telemedicine is limited, some cases that need prompt physical examination needs faceto-face consult. Physicians need to thoroughly examine a patient to assess the proper diagnosis and treatment. Common OPD diseases can be managed by telemedicine but again, not all can be catered accordingly.

This online consult needs a stable internet connection as it uses a video call feature. Any gadget with a stable internet connection, be it a mobile phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet may suffice. A patient then logs into the hospital's website and answers all the necessary information. After a while, a call coming from the hospital's online triage will be received. The triage officer will designate patients to the right clinical department that will cater their needs. Patients are then queued in an online waiting room until their turn to talk to the assigned doctor has come. Attending doctors can prescribe medications thru prescriptions and can give laboratory and radiologic requests that can be sent online thru the online Konsulta platform. • Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital

Telehealth (for Region III) - free • DOCPH - free • HealthNow - free • AIDE - Php 500 • Medifi - Php 699 • KonsultaMD - varies

With the prevailing situation of hospitals getting overwhelmed with patients, Masonry can have a special contribution to society by organizing a Telemedicine Projects. It can be started with a Masonic Organizer (Lodge, District, Appendant Body, or Sojourners Club) inviting Doctors to participate in online consults while making announcements for the brethren to schedule their consultation. The practice can start as an online medical mission of sorts using existing video-conferencing platforms like Zoom, FB Messenger, Google Meet, etc.