Busy lifestyles can make routine and import tasks like a doctor’s visit a troublesome distraction from work and school related tasks. Medical professionals used to do house-calls but those days are long gone and most patients are forced to make their way to clinics or hospitals for checkups usually during working hours. Canadian technology startup Medeo.ca wants to offer users a more convenient way to see their doctors with their new online platform that allows virtual doctors visits through a computer or mobile device. Residents of British Columbia can now skip the waiting room and commutes and get a face-to-face meeting with a doctor online if they have valid Medical Services Plan.
TechVibes explains that, “The secure video conferencing works the same way as a webcam and accessing the website only takes minutes. Once the user signs up with Medeo they will then speak with a coordinator who will assist them with appointment bookings and preparation, as well as connecting them with their current physician if they offer Medeo-based care.” Doctors have a number of options after speaking to a patient through Medeo including the ability to “prescribe medication, refer a specialist and upload care plan information all from the website.”
Telehealth solutions have shown to be useful to many people around the world including Canada. One problem the telehealth solutions can help resolve in Canada was uncovered by the Canadian Institute for Health when they conducted a study in 2012 that showed one of of three residents had issues getting to an appointment. with solutions like Medeo.ca “patients can have easier follow-up visits, disease management and access to specialists. All the while freeing up some space in the waiting room.”
Ryan Wilson, CEO of Medeo, says that, “Medeo.ca is helping British Columbians enjoy improved access to healthcare. We have created a unique made-in-BC app that allows patients to connect with doctors throughout British Columbia through secure, online video conferencing.”
The Medeo service has 60 physicians that are part of its program and they are charged an overhead to use the service. The doctors are independent of the startup and the company only provides a safe and secure method for a patient and doctor to communicate and visit. According to the firm all data is secured in, “world class, military-grade, bank-level secure data centres.”
TechVibes claims that, “The online option will have many positive outcomes for the Canadian health care. As more and more people adapt this new way of seeing the doctor, emergency-room wait times will drop significantly as only those who need to be there will be there. While a visit to the emergency room can cost MSP anywhere around $700, an online visit will cost $40 at most. Virtual checkups will also greatly benefit those with chronic diseases who would need to see their doctors more frequently than others.”
Source: TechVibes