A first “augmented” teleconsultation cabin in Toulouse
Thanks to a teleconsultation cabin equipped with connected medical instruments, patients at the La Cépière pharmacy in Toulouse could be examined by a video doctor and then purchase their treatment in less than fifteen minutes.
For just two months, the La Cépière pharmacy in Toulouse has been equipped with a so-called “augmented” teleconsultation cabin. One of the first of its kind in the Pink City. This device, halfway between the photo booth and the medical office, allows you to be put in touch with a doctor, by videoconference, in a few minutes. Thanks to a small range of connected medical instruments (thermometer, tensiometer, stethoscope, etc.) that the patient will have to handle himself, the practitioner will be able to direct most of the examinations necessary for the development of a diagnosis or, if necessary, refer the patient to more comprehensive treatment.
An “innovative” service and fully reimbursed
“It’s an innovative service that is very popular with patients. Especially since some people sometimes have trouble finding a doctor and the emergency room cannot absorb everything, ”says Géraldine Dambax, the pharmacist in charge of the pharmacy. In order to benefit from a teleconsultation with one of the 50 doctors employed by Tesanthe French start-up which developed and installed the device, the patient simply has to bring his vital card and an email address and create an account, when using the cabin for the first time.
Consultations being fully covered by health insurance, the patient has no advance fee to take on his account. “I chose this company because its teleconsultation platform and some of the doctors are based in Toulouse”, specifies Géraldine Dambax who also favored a connected cabin, rather than a simple terminal, in order to guarantee the confidentiality of the consultations.
Infections, renewal of treatment…
“We are not here to replace the attending physician. It is an additional solution to compensate for the lack of availability of practitioners in certain urgent cases”, assures Géraldine Dambax. Indeed, according to her, the usefulness of these teleconsultation devices is revealed first and foremost in cases of acute infections: dental abscess, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infection, etc. “This allows, for example, to quickly obtain a prescription to request without having to wait two days for a dentist to see you”, defended the pharmacist.
In addition to the responsiveness of the device in the event of an emergency, the teleconsultation booths also prove to be an interesting tool for having a prescription quickly edited by a doctor. Whether it is to obtain an appointment with a specialist, for a simple renewal of treatment or after the loss of his medication. A very useful solution for passing patients who do not have a doctor on site. “It is also possible to have a first work stoppage established. But the doctor will not be able, with a simple teleconsultation, to renew the stoppage or establish a medical certificate, ”specifies the pharmacist.
An extension to teleconsultations with specialists
For the moment, most of the professionals available are general practitioners. Nevertheless, the Tessan company already offers some consultations with specialists (dermatologist, endocrinologist, paediatricians, etc.), with appointments offered within less than a week, and has even developed a teleophthalmology table. “Patients are very satisfied with the service provided and the speed of response. Even if they remain attached to their doctor, they are not reluctant to the principle of teleconsultation which emerged during the Covid epidemic”, discovered Géraldine Dambax.