The problem
Patients who only need a results discussion or a follow-up still have to travel in, and some cancel late when they can't get away. If a clinic loses 4 follow-ups a week to late cancellations at $120£90€107A$173C$169 each, that's about $2,059£1,548€1,842A$2,972C$2,910 a month (4 x $120£90€107A$173C$169 x 4.3).
What the AI does
Medesk's Pro plan includes telemedicine: you can turn an in-person appointment into a video consultation with one click, using the app or a web browser, and patients can book video consultations online, with no time limit on sessions. The GP decides which appointment types suit video, such as results discussions and follow-ups, and books the patient in person whenever an examination is needed.
A worked example
A one-GP private clinic in Winchester has about 206 appointments a month on Medesk Pro and loses about 4 follow-ups a week to late cancellations. It offers video for results discussions and follow-ups.
Before
About 4 follow-ups a week canceled late: about $2,059£1,548€1,842A$2,972C$2,910 a month
After
Half of those kept as video consultations: about $1,029£774€921A$1,486C$1,455 a month
What it's worth
About $617£464€552A$891C$872 a month in profit, at an assumed 60% margin on $1,029£774€921A$1,486C$1,455 of follow-ups kept (2 a week x $120£90€107A$173C$169 x 4.3). Telemedicine is included in Medesk Pro, $80 (about $80£60€71A$115C$113) a month for up to 250 appointments, so a clinic already on Pro pays nothing extra.
How to set it up
- Check Medesk's pricing page: Pro is $16 per 50 appointments a month and includes telemedicine; video consultations count towards your appointments.
- Decide which appointment types suit video, and keep anything that needs an examination face to face.
- At the start of each video consultation, confirm the patient's identity and where they are, in case you need to send help.
- Check your CQC registration covers remote consultations, and tell your indemnity provider.
- Follow GMC guidance on remote consultations and prescribing, and record in the notes that the consultation was by video.
What goes wrong
- Video can miss what an examination would find. If there's any doubt, bring the patient in.
- Remote prescribing carries extra risk. Follow GMC guidance and the clinic's prescribing policy, and don't prescribe if you can't do it safely.
- Medesk's pricing page doesn't say where data is hosted. Ask, and sign a data processing agreement before you start.
- Some patients struggle with video. Agree a phone fallback in advance.