FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the TELADOCTOR service?
A: Provides consumer members and dependants age 12+ with affordable, around-the-clock access to telephone medical consults with trained primary care doctors who diagnose medical problems and, when appropriate, prescribe medications. Members can reach a TELADOCTOR physician from their home, office, hotel room, or on the road &ndash 24/7/365 &ndash in English and Regional Languages. Accessing medical treatment is easy and affordable.
When individuals register for membership in TELADOCTOR, they provide information that builds their own unique electronic medical record (EMR), which TELADOCTOR physicians utilize during medical consultations. All TELADOCTOR services maintain patient confidentiality. - Delivery of medicine is free(Currently in Mumbai,Navi Mumbai & Thane)
Q: Why was TELADOCTOR created?
A: To help drive down the cost of medical care and be a more convenient alternative for patients. Answers the needs of individuals, self-insured employers, as well as small business owners who need high quality, more cost-effective medical care. Founded by physicians, for members help resolve routine medical issues at a fraction of the cost of a normal visit to the urgent care facility, emergency room or the doctor&rsquos Clinic.
- Urgent-care facilities - average Rs. per visit.
- Emergency rooms - average Rs. per visit.
- Primary care doctor office visit &ndash average Rs. per visit.
- TELEDOCTOR consults are a flat Rs.250/- to 650/-
TELADOCTOR also saves patients time since members can receive a telephone medical consult within 2 hours of contacting TELADOCTOR or the consult is free.
Q: Does the TELADOCTOR physician replace my regular primary care physician?
A: No. A physician providing a phone consult, facilitated by the TELADOCTOR service is intended to be another option for you to manage your health care when your Family physician isn&rsquot available (in the middle of the night or on weekends) or it is too inconvenient or too costly to travel to your Family physician for the specific medical need.
If you are doesn&rsquot have a primary care physician, a physician phone consultation, arranged by the TELADOCTOR service is an excellent first line of defense.
Here are some of the reasons that individuals utilize services:
- Telephone medical consults cost about the same as many co-pays.
- Some doctors are not accessible during evenings and weekends or do not work after hours.
- It is sometimes difficult for a doctor to squeeze in a patient on the same day that the patient calls; TELADOCTOR will talk to the patient within two hours or less or the consult is free.
- Many physicians insist upon face-to-face office visits because managed care doesn&rsquot pay them unless the patient comes into the clinic.
- Families resort to urgent care facilities or the Emergency Room for after-hours care &ndash which can take hours, requires travel and costs dramatically more.
- Physicians providing phone consultations to TELADOCTOR members always have access to a member&rsquos personal Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and use it when performing the consult.
- TELADOCTOR physicians may first recommend appropriate over-the-counter (OTC) medications, but when necessary, will prescribe medication to treat the patient&rsquos illness.
A: Physicians provide telephone medical consults during which they evaluate a members minor medical problem. The patient&rsquos own detailed medical history is used during the consult. Diagnosing a patient&rsquos medical condition is a collaborative process between the member and the doctor:
- At the start of the doctor-patient consult, the doctor questions the patient about any changes in his/her medical condition since the last contact.
- The patient&rsquos symptoms are evaluated against his/her medical history, provided during the member registration process.
- Patients articulate their current condition, answer specific follow-up questions, and confer with the doctor, who &ndash in most cases &ndash makes the diagnosis and develops a treatment plan.
In some cases the doctor will recommend that the member go to an emergency department, an urgent care center, or their family doctor for more specific testing and evaluation. If appropriate, a prescription will be called in to a pharmacy chosen by the member. A quality medical consult has been delivered quickly, conveniently, and affordably.
Q: Can TELADOCTOR actually diagnose my medical problem over the phone?
A: Yes . Unlike informational-based services and Nurse Lines, TELADOCTOR has a prior relationship with the member patient. Therefore, TELADOCTOR physicians actually diagnose your illness, prescribe a therapy and if appropriate, prescribe medication.
Q: Do I have to leave work to see the doctor?
A: No . The doctor comes to you via telephone any time 24/7.
Q: Can TELADOCTOR members get prescriptions filled from the consulting physician?
A: Yes. This is one of the great benefits of TELADOCTOR. Because TELADOCTOR has a prior relationship with the patient,
- Prescriptions can be phoned in to any pharmacy anywhere members happen to be!
- The consulting physician can refill most prescriptions if they are already noted in the patient&rsquos medial history, however, the physicians do not write prescriptions for controlled substances, narcotics, long-term or lifestyle drugs.
- The consulting physicians have each member&rsquos normal pharmacy telephone information and can phone in prescriptions immediately.
A: TELADOCTOR physicians may (in medically appropriate situations) write prescriptions for a wide range of products that deliver direct medicinal value. These include, but are not limited to, drug classes such as antibiotics and antihistamines. Scripts for maintenance medicines may also be obtained in cases where a member is in transition to a new doctor. The physicians do not issue prescriptions for controlled substances, those which may be harmful and offer potential for abuse or addiction, including narcotics, stimulants, depressant, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, lifestyle drugs and others. TELADOCTOR physicians do not write prescriptions for Viagra and other lifestyle drugs. Please be aware the doctor may or may not be able to prescribe you medication. He or she will make the decision based on your medical history and current situation.
Q: How does TELADOCTOR obtain the enrollee&rsquos medical history?
A: During the registration process, members complete a Medical History Disclosure that serves as an electronic record of the individual&rsquos medical history and healthcare profile. The disclosure is similar to the information an individual provides during his or her first visit to a Family physician, including past medical history, previous surgeries, chronic illnesses, cholesterol levels, medications, or allergies.
Q: Does the doctor review the member&rsquos medical history before performing a consult?
A: Yes. The medical history is stored on TELEDOCTORS encrypted central server. Before calling the patient, the doctor reviews the medical history with specific focus on chronic illnesses, current medications, allergies and any changes in the patient&rsquos medical condition since the last contact.
Q: How do I schedule an appointment to talk to the physician?
A:After enrolling as a member, you can call 27691918 any time night or day from any phone. Our call center representative will schedule your medical consult with a consulting physician.
Q: How quickly can I talk to a doctor?
A: Average call back time is usually less than one hour, but all calls are guaranteed to be returned within two hours or the consult is free. Note: If the member misses the call from the consulting physician, his three hour waiting period starts over. After three missed calls, the consult request is cancelled and the member is not charged.
Q: How often can I call the Doctor?
A: As often as needed. Your membership allows you to call any time you have a medical issue.
Q: Who can become a member of TELADOCTOR?
A: Anyone 12 years of age or older can become a TELADOCTOR member. We accept the elderly and those with pre-existing or chronic illnesses. You, and all of your family members, regardless of family size, can become members.
Q: Can companies become members of TelaDoc?
A: Yes . TELADOCTOR regularly enrolls entire companies. Any company that is self-insured can realize immediate cost savings by enrolling their employees and dependants in the TELADOCTOR program.
Q: How much does TELADOCTOR cost?
A: It is an affordable option for individuals (primary) and their families (dependents):
| Registration and Consultation Fees |
|
|
| Registration with Hassle free hospitalization up to Rs.50,000/-** | Rs.2222/- |
Rs. 0 |
| Cost for Consultation (Introductory Offer) | 0 |
0 |
Q: Does TELADOCTOR refer to specialists?
A: While the consulting physician might recommend you see a doctor face-to-face, he does not refer to a specific specialist.
Q: If the consulting physician recommends I see a doctor face-to-face, do I still have to pay the consult fee?
A: Yes. As is often the case, primary care physicians refer patients to other doctors that specialize in your area of need. In those instances, patients are still obligated to pay for the primary care physician appointment. TELADOCTOR&rsquos policy is just the same. You must pay for the consulting physician&rsquos time.
