If you’ve ever had to cancel plans or take a few hours off work (or miss a day altogether) because you had to see your doctor for a repeat prescription for medication you’ve been taking for years, you know how frustrating it can be. And if you have to regularly do it every few months, or if you live in an area far away from a doctor or hospital, it can quickly start affecting your schedules.
Many chronic illness sufferers report that having to book appointments just to get a repeat prescription can be a hassle and they may even consider skipping out on their medication for a few days just to avoid it. A regular doctor visit can be time, money and energy-consuming, so it’s no wonder people would risk their health to avoid making one if possible. In such cases, online prescription consultations may come as a welcome respite for people with chronic health conditions.
What is an online prescription consultation?
In contrast to a face-to-face appointment, where you’re expected to take time off work or make babysitting arrangements if you’re a stay-at-home parent to make it to the doctor’s clinic, an online consultation allows you to get in touch with a registered home without having to go out of your way. Simply log on to the service provider’s app or website, select the type of service you need and the date and time you wish to consult a doctor on and wait for the selected time to come around. In the meantime, you can go about your day as usual.
For an online gp consultation, all you need is a solid internet connection, a smart device with audio and video capabilities and the ability to connect to the internet, such as a smartphone, a laptop or desktop computer or a tablet device, and 10 to 15 minutes in a quiet part of your house or workplace for the consultation to take place.
How to consult with a doctor online
Creating an account on a telemedicine service website or app is easy. It involves a quick process of entering some basic information about yourself, including your address, best contact number and credit card or other payment information. You may also be asked to provide a brief medical history to make it easier for the provider to connect you to the right doctor and the for doctor assessing you to provide the right medical help.
Whether you need a quick online consultation with a doctor for new or ongoing symptoms, require a medical certificate for sick leave or simply require a repeat prescription for medication you’re already taking, online healthcare services offer you a quick and efficient way of doing so.
To get a repeat prescription for medication that has previously been prescribed to you by an in-person doctor, in most cases, all you need to do is fill in an online questionnaire relating to your medical history and the nature of previous prescriptions and current medication, select a payment option and proceed with payment. This questionnaire will then be forwarded to an AHPRA registered medical practitioner for an assessment, and if he/she is satisfied, you will be notified and your prescription will be emailed or faxed to your nominated pharmacy for you to pick up.
In case the assessing doctor needs more information, you may be asked for a quick online prescription consultation to confirm some details, after which your prescription will be forwarded to the pharmacy. If the doctor decides that you need to visit a doctor in person or need a physical examination before the medication can be reissued to you and that an online consultation may not be suitable for your condition, you will be notified and your fee will be refunded in most cases.
The main cons of visiting a medical clinic
Anyone who has ever had to visit a doctor for any reason knows how much of a hassle it can be. First, you’ll need to call to book an appointment, and if your GP or doctor is in high demand, it could be a while before you manage to get an available appointment. Then, because appointemnets are so few and far in between, you will have to reschedule any other plans you had for that particular date in order to make it to your appointment. This may include leaving work early, taking a half day or even taking the entire day off if you live far from the clinic.
Then factor in the time you’re likely to spend travelling to and from the clinic. For people taking the public transport, the amount of time easily doubles, and even if you’re driving yourself, you can expect to spend some time in traffic.
Even after you make it to the clinic, you can be asked to wait for up to an hour for the doctor to see you. This puts you at risk of contracting other viruses and diseases from the other ill people around you. All of this brings to the forefront how much more quick, convenient and safe online prescription consultations are.
