DocVita launches a new platform to consult doctors on video. The platform connects people with the right doctor for a video consultation, followed by an in-person visit, if needed. The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed DocVita’s evolution into a telemedicine platform from its core of Practice Management for Clinics.
With the spread of COVID-19, global healthcare has come under considerable stress. To assist people in meeting their medical needs in the ongoing pandemic, DocVita is now live with a unique service offering – a virtual consultation which includes an in-person follow-up at no extra cost, if needed. Online services are accessible pan India, and in-person services are currently available in Indore. The company has plans to launch these in-person services in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi by September 2020. DocVita is gaining overwhelming response from users and has been successful in assisting patients to connect with India’s top doctors.
Talking about the launch, Anmol Arora, CEO, DocVita says, “I am excited to announce the launch of our mobile app on Android & iOS platforms. The COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize the gaps in our healthcare system, as well as the importance of early identification of diseases. To remove the barriers for people to seek timely medical help, we need to make healthcare more accessible and people-centric.” He also adds, “Our technology allows us to partner with the patients and help them manage their health better and support their healthcare goals. We expect telehealth to play a significant role in care delivery during the pandemic and the time thereafter.”
“Patients on telemedicine platforms in India are often left with the impression that doctors don’t spend quality time with them in virtual consultations. As a result, the patient ends up feeling that their issues were neglected. We aim to provide the highest standards of virtual care,” said Dr. Amish Pathak, DocVita. He further added, “We ensure that our Doctors have a dedicated clinic or chamber to tend to the patient in a favourable environment. This is different from platforms where doctors often speak to multiple patients on chat, thereby compromising patient experience. Doctors at DocVita spend quality time with patients on video calls to understand their health concerns, guide them through treatment options and provide them with a recovery plan.”
People can book appointments with DocVita specialists from the comfort of their home by simply downloading the DocVita app or calling their customer care on 6366448799. Once a request is registered, the team connects the patient with the relevant specialist (their algorithm favours local specialists, if available), and a video consultation is scheduled. Before the consultation, the patient has the option to chat with the doctor and share any history relevant to their health concern. During the consultation, the DocVita specialist spends time with the patient to understand their health concerns, taking note of their history, current medication and allergies, if any. Once the underlying problem is diagnosed, the specialist discusses the root causes of the issue along with possible treatment options with the patient.
After the consultation, the patient receives a clear prescription with health advice, a treatment plan and a complimentary 5-day follow-up to get any additional queries addressed. In cases where a physical examination is required to make a conclusive diagnosis, patients can follow up with an in-person visit at no extra cost, accounting for a higher satisfaction for both customers and providers. Until the pandemic, DocVita had been actively helping medical professionals in India automate routine tasks and enhance patient experience. With the onset of COVID-19, it became difficult for their doctors and patients to stay connected, as they couldn’t see each other in person. DocVita then decided to pivot the company into telemedicine and thus evolved into a teleconsultation platform, helping people overcome geographical barriers to access quality healthcare.
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COVID-19 has highlighted the need for telehealth, as people have shown an increasing preference for online consultations. Initial market surveys conducted by the team revealed that several patients were even willing to switch doctors if the ones they knew didn’t offer options to consult online. According to a 2019 report by McKinsey Global Institute titled, ‘Digital India: Technology to transform a connected nation’, India might save up to $10 billion by 2025 if telemedicine services could replace 30 to 40 percent of in-person consultations. Talking about 2020, the pandemic has forced the healthcare sector to adopt digitisation faster than it was expected or projected. While telemedicine services have been around for a long time now, the COVID-19 outbreak increased the demand and added major fillip to the ecosystem.
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