It is through the Region of Stockholm app ”Always open” as women can now book an appointment for a 30 minutes long video session with a midwife, usually the same day. Since its inception a few weeks ago, it had upwards of 200 visits.
The most common questions asked is about contraception, ” says Lisa Ryding, director of the Barnmorskemottagningarna Stockholm Södra and facilitator for the ”Always open”.
” It could be that you want to consult about which contraception to use, or if you quickly need to renew a prescription for the pill.
can also move on other issues relating to women’s health. And so, of course, about pregnancy.
Lisa Ryding. Photo: Yanan Li
– It can be anything from women who have recently become pregnant and who want tips and advice, to women with different disorders in the later phases of pregnancy. If you are worried about something, such as altered fetal movements, it may feel safe to be able to quickly get to meet a midwife, ” says Lisa Ryding.
– Many of the expectant mothers would also like to have advice on what they can eat, what is safe for the child.
Digital care and nätläkarbesök has been much discussed in Sweden in recent years. In particular, it has then been about the private sector, as a Tee, My Doctor, Doktor24 and doctor.see. Visits to the private nätläkartjänsterna has grown exponentially which has resulted in considerable costs for the county councils.
has been heard, including from doctors. In the debate, for example, pointed out that many of the visits is on the simpler ailments like common cold, where visits to the doctor not have been necessary. With the great costs as the private nätläkartjänsterna means of the county councils is to run the risk to get less resources for the usual care and patients with more severe illnesses, say the critics.
the Defenders of the private online services have among other things argued that, in fact, may be that these relieve the pressure on primary care, at a lower cost than what the visits would cost. They have also asserted that it is the standard of care inaccessibility and queues that led to the increase of visits through the private vårdapparna.
According to the National mapping are the users of digital health care services young, only one in ten is over 50, and there are patients in the big cities that use the services the most. More women than men are looking for doctors online, and the most common causes are respiratory infections and skin diseases.
the national Board of review of the research suggests that patients in general are positive to the digital services, including video conferencing, and that the availability of specialistbedömningar increases – but most of the studies focused then on the specialty of dermatology, i.e. skin diseases.
Sweden’s municipalities and county councils, a reduction of the remuneration for the visits to the private players. There is also a government investigation into whether the gains in health care, and on how to ensure that health care money going to such activities as they are intended for. A year ago, got the investigator Göran Stiernstedt in tilläggsuppdrag to analyze how to create a sustainable system for nätläkare, and how this type of services should contribute to the principle of care according to need. The investigation shall be completed June 30 of this year.
at the same time as the discussion on the private nätläkarföretagen is going on, more and more county councils have started their own, similar services. In almost all regions are now established nätläkarverksamheter or projects, according to the National survey.
In the Region of Östergötland is, for example, the app ”Digital clinic” where patients can book videobesök with a doctor. There is also an optional service for the return visit, via video, in both primary care and specialist care. As well as the other county council services, recommended the patients to search for mild disorders that do not require a physical examination.
In the Western Region is the app ”Närhälsan online”. In the Valleys called the app ”My health Care” and offers video calling with doctors, physical therapist and the youth center. The app is a symtomlista for the ordinary inconvenience that is suitable for digital visits to the doctor, such as allergy, colds, upset stomach, and general health issues.
can it be than so long as the book digital physician, or alternatively, video time with a nurse or counselor, of a dozen health centers through the app ”Always open”. The plan is that all health centers will eventually be connected. Patientavgiften is where the same as in the case of physical visit, and also such can be booked via the app.
New is that with the ”Always open” can also book a video call with both the youth center and barmorskemottagning.
At the youth clinic, you can schedule an appointment with a midwife, a counselor or a nurse to talk about contraception, the body and sex.
the digital barnmorskemottagningen stresses that these video meetings are a supplement to the usual care, not ”instead of”. The women who need to get on a physical visit can in videomötet get help to book an appointment.
video calls are not recorded, but the visits journalförs just like a regular visit, ” says Lisa Ryding.
It feels safer for both the midwife and patient to see each other during a pre-booked call, compared with telephone counseling, she says.
– the Contact between the midwife and the woman will be better than on the phone. And the patient may view such a thing as ”visible”, like a rash or pain at certain movements.
– at the security is also something that women who used these video meetings have highlighted, ” says Lisa Ryding.
it can also for various reasons be sensitive to go to a reception to talk about, for example, underlivsbesvär or contraception. For them, the video call to be an easier way to take a first contact.
And so it is of course time-saving for many patients to be able to talk with us without having to go to a reception. When we planned for video calls, we had realized that on our previous drop-in receptions usually was about that, we answered questions and gave information, rarely if the physical examinations.
the Feedback from patients so far has been very positive, ” says Lisa Ryding. Everyone who has used these video meetings have been asked to respond to a survey. The vast majority of people who responded feel that they have received help for what they searched for, they could take up other issues during the call and that the communication with the midwife worked as well as at a physical meeting.
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Digital healthcare is growing: ”We use almost only the app”
