Avoid AIIMS rush, consult doctor via web

NEW DELHI: Getting a second opinion from specialists at AIIMS or seeking their suggestions on post-operative care is now just a click away.
Patients can log in to the institute’s website and put a request for video consultation, a feature added recently to the online OPD consultation system.
Officials told TOI that the dry run of AIIMS video clinic has been completed successfully. Specialists from 20 departments, including medicine, gastroenterology and cardiology, have consented to taking out a couple of hours daily for the job, they added.
Dr Deepak Agrawal, who heads the IT division, said that this consultation will not be valid for medico-legal purposes as it will be given without the physical presence of the patient.
“The AIIMS video clinic has been developed by National Informatics Centre. It allows uploading of discharge summary and investigation reports. We will be deputing nurses trained in IT to coordinate with the doctors for video calls in the time allotted for each patient,” Agrawal added.
The video-clinic facility is expected to help reduce patient burden, apart from easing the hardship and financial impact suffered by patients travelling from other states for a second opinion or treatment without prior appointment.
On an average, doctors said, close to 10,000 patients visit AIIMS daily. Of this, 50% are follow-up cases and 40% come for a second opinion. Only 10% are new cases. “Today, majority of specialist doctors are concentrated in metro cities. The use of such technology can help reduce the gap of specialists in small cities and villages as even the local doctors can use it to treat local patients,” said another doctor.
AIIMS video clinic is also going to be a highlight of the health pavilion at India International Trade Fair, which is scheduled to open on Monday. “Those visiting the fair can book an appointment for video consultation,” said a senior doctor.
Despite infrastructure growth, which includes opening of six new AIIMS across states, the one in the capital witnesses a huge crowd of patients daily.
The waiting period for neurosurgery or cancer treatment is up to a year. Experts say that telemedicine and video clinic can be an additional help, but focus is needed to improving existing public health facilities.