Coronavirus: Virtual medical consultations with doctors now available

Discovery, on their website, announced that all health medical scheme members have access to virtual consultations with their doctors. If their doctor is not available, a dedicated coronavirus care team of doctors are on hand to consult.

As the outbreak of COVID-19 [coronavirus] continues to spread across the world, containment measures are becoming more important. 

“Social distancing is one way to help stop the virus spreading and ‘flattening the curve,” it said. 

“We [are] encouraging the use of virtual consultation services to ensure people can follow recommended guidelines on social distancing,” it added. 

Virtual medical guidance during coronavirus outbreak

According to Discovery, when your doctor is registered on HealthID and DrConnect, you can book an appointment with your doctor and speak directly to them on a video call or messaging service. 

“Your doctor can give you medical guidance about your risks and symptoms while you are at home and can direct you on your eligibility for testing, your need to self-isolate or to go for a face-to-face consultation if you need it,” it said. 

The DrConnect offering is a key part of our comprehensive support to medical scheme members and healthcare professionals during the coronavirus outbreak. With its online consultation service, doctors can make appointments and assess their patients using the virtual consultation booking system through HealthID DrConnect.

Head of Discovery Health’s clinical policy unit, Noluthando Nematswerani explained: “With people accessing healthcare services through digital channels, they can follow recommended guidelines of social distancing that further prevent the possible transmission of COVID-19 virus to others.”

“It also enables doctors to triage patients and identify those who need referral to medical facilities — assisting with not overloading certain healthcare professionals and testing or treatment centres,” she added. 

Here’s how to get your virtual medical consultation started 

Looking to get your medical consultation started? Here’s how you can do it.  

1. The COVID-19 [coronavirus] information hub offers a quick risk assessment questionnaire related to COVID-19 exposure. If you answer yes to certain of the scenarios, we recommend you immediately book a consultation with your doctor;
2. Click on consult virtually with a doctor;
3. We will show you some additional information to get you started and then you can book a virtual consultation;
4. You can choose to book an appointment with your own doctor, if they are available. While COVID-19 is a national health crisis, you now also have access to a dedicated COVID-19 care team of doctors to consult with;
5. Give these doctors consent to view your Electronic Health Record; and 
6. You can now consult virtually, using video or text, through our DrConnect platform.

What you will need

• Access the DrConnect functionality through the website or our app;
• Make sure you have a stable internet connection to book your appointment and to talk to your doctor on a video call or messaging service;
• Give your doctors consent to view your health records;
• Book an appointment; and 
• Once you have made the appointment, you will get a reminder on DrConnect.

Other services available on the DrConnect app include Ask a doctor which is basically a library of doctor-created responses to medical questions.

Check your symptoms, is a system powered by artificial intelligence that checks your symptoms and gives you recommendations.

Virtual consultations are not recommended when people are experiencing an immediate medical emergency. For that, Discovery Health Medical Scheme members can contact the appropriate medical emergency services.