Three tech providers join forces for enhanced remote consultation platform

Three healthcare technology providers have joined forces to develop an enhanced remote consultation service for GPs.

Cognitant, eConsult Health and Q doctor have collaborated on an online tool which provides GP practices with quick and easy access to the three providers platforms.

It’s designed to prioritise patient need by directing them to the best starting point in the healthcare system.

After answering a short questionnaire, patients are then assessed by the appropriate health professional.

Using eConsult’s or Q doctor’s video consultation platforms the most appropriate course of action can then be communicated back to the patient remotely, minimising the amount of patients that need to attend the practice.

As part of this communication, GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals can provide their patients with supporting information sourced from Healthinote. This helps to extend the consultation and empowers patients to better manage their health.

Dr Murray Ellender, chief executive of eConsult and an NHS GP, said: “Remote triage is essential to provide the right care first time and to eliminate any unnecessary steps. Our partnership with Q doctor will make it even easier and more streamlined for both patients and doctors to consult remotely at a time when face to face appointments can be risky.

“With increased virtual consultations, it is even more necessary to ensure that we extend the online consultation with clear, engaging and accessible patient information that can be consumed by the patient in their own time.

“With the integration of Cognitant’s Healthinote platform, primary care clinicians will be able to seamlessly select and share trusted information with their patients.”

The toolkit allows GPs and practice staff to manage the entire patient journey from one screen and provide fully integrated triage, remote consultation and patient information.

GPs are provided the option of a virtual smartcard or virtual PC system through Qdoctor, making remote working easier.

Dr Tim Ringrose, chief executive of Cognitant said: “Our mission is to empower patients with accessible, memorable and impactful health information, helping people to better manage their health.

“We are happy that our patient information will help to extend eConsult consultations with engaging and accessible information about treatment and diagnosis that can be consumed by the patient at their leisure.”

The toolbar is currently free to any GP practice using eConsult.