STEPPING UP CHECKS ARE TELEMEDICAL APPS
Some healthcare apps and healthcare services reported to CNA that they are increasing checks on their doctors and patients to avoid abuse in the midst of the MaNaDr event.
Speedoc, a modern healthcare provider that provides telemedicine and house calls, announced more checks and assessments on how its doctors issue MCs.
According to the bank’s chief executive officer, Dr. Shravan Verma, this is to assure that the MCs are given in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Dr. Verma added that if a person visits frequently for picture consultations, they might suggest an in-person discussion to make sure no underlying problems are overlooked.
Also, Fullerton Health, which even offers teleconsultations, said it has an call for repeated-visit people who undergo three or more sessions within the calendar quarter.  ,
According to its spokesperson,” These metrics may help doctors advise for patients to visit a real clinic for a rigorous assessment of unsettled or regular health conditions,” as well as a summary of the times and duration of the medical certificates that were issued for each patient.
CNA reported problems last year about some healthcare apps issuing MCs after very brief consultations. After a 43-second distant conversation, a CNA writer obtained an MC from MaNaDr.
Dr Zeng Zhi Yong, a resident physician at BCH Clinic@Pasir Ris, said he conducts about two to three sessions per week, which typically take about five to 10 days.
” It would be challenging to go through everything in a minute because I have other things to do besides ask them about their symptoms. Additionally, we need to examine potential dark colors. For example, if they say they have a toothache, we may ask them to take their temperatures to see if they are having a fever too”, he said.  ,
Dr. Zeng claimed that single teleconsultations can be made with patients who have previously visited the doctor in person.  ,
Besides methods to reduce hypochondria,  , healthcare providers CNA spoke to said their doctors have to have a vetting operation before they are allowed to conduct teleconsultations.
According to the telemedicine app Doctor Everywhere, all doctors must provide details about their present employment, licensing, and telemedicine experience, as well as proof that they have completed the health ministry’s required telemedicine e-training.  ,
It does n’t employ doctors who have potential conflicts of interest or are in the public healthcare sector.
Also, Raffles Medical said all teleconsultations are conducted by qualified family physicians and general experts. Moreover, all specialists on its teleconsultation system work full-time, with no outside locums.  ,
Also, Dr Zeng said consultant doctors at his office are never allowed to conduct teleconsultations.  ,
” We do this because we do need our people to see a familiar face, but that it’s a bit more comfortable”, said Dr Zeng.
However, the secret doctor who works part-time on healthcare software remained skeptical about how effective these procedures are in preventing healthcare abuse.  ,
She argued that repeat-visit alerts just function when individuals use the same program.
If a person uses a unique telehealth app, the physician would not be aware of their prior consultations on various platforms unless the patient provided this information.
Setting a teleconsultation minimum duration might not be practical, she said, because some conditions do n’t need much time to be diagnosed.
” These steps are more for the doctors to be able to defend themselves”, she said.
” Actually, the people who abuse healthcare, or the whole MC method, may continue to do so. They should also be held liable for their behaviour” . ,