Telemedicine in India is currently guided by the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines issued by the Board of Governors, Medical Council of India. This constitutes Appendix 5 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Regulation, 2002]. These terms and conditions given below govern the telemedicine consultations done by Providence Endocrine and Diabetes Specialty Centre. In this document “client” refers to the person availing the consult and “centre” refers to the doctor who is doing the consultation or Providence Endocrine or Diabetes Specialty Centre.
- An identification document is essential for knowing the identity of the consulting person. The identification document should have a photograph, name and date of birth. Identification document can be AADHAR/Passport/Driving licence. The client has to submit a document of identification.
- The centre has right to refuse a consultation and ask the person to appear for a physical consult at the centre. If the doctor doing the teleconsultation feels that he /she is unable to make any useful diagnosis or suggest a treatment, you will be asked to come physically to the centre. In such a scenario, the consultation fees are adjusted for the same. The visit should be made withing 14 days.
- The communication medium for reply is ENGLISH only. Medical complaints may be registered in Malayalam/ English/Hindi or Tamil.
- The consultation fees have to be paid in advance. The consultation fee is non-refundable. If the teleconsultation is converted by the doctor subsequently into a physical visit, the consultation fees will be adjusted within the same. The same has to be planned within 14 days. If a Providence coupon is used for telemedicine consultation, it is valid only once.
- All the relevant investigations should be mailed ahead of the consultation. This has to be in pdf or jpg images. The client is responsible for the accuracy of the investigations submitted for telemedicine consultation including vital parameters like pulse, blood pressure, weight and temperature. All mailed investigations should have the name of the lab, signature of the biochemist/doctor and report should be in full. If a new call is initiated for discussing the investigations within 15 days, it will be considered as a follow up call of the previous consultation. Any calls done after 15 days will be considered as a new consultation.
- Telemedicine consultations will be fixed at the convenience of the client and the consulting doctor. Consultations are not done on Sundays.
- Telemedicine does not support URGENT consultations. Please visit emergency services for all emergency consultations. Emergencies arising subsequent to the prescription of medicines prescribed during telemedicine visit also should be dealt with by attending or calling emergency services.
- Consultations done by doctors at Providence Endocrine and Diabetes Specialty Centre is only for diseases related to endocrinology and diabetes. This includes various forms of diabetes, thyroid diseases, parathyroid and metabolic bone diseases including osteoporosis, hypoglycemia, pancreatic diseases, adrenal diseases, Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome, steroid overuse, pubertal and growth diseases including short stature, pituitary diseases including prolactin related diseases, PCOD, obesity and menstrual abnormalities. If you have any doubt if your disease is related to endocrinology, please mail us at endodiabetes@gmail.com before telemedicine consultation.
- All medicines consumed by the client availing the consultation should be mentioned even if it is not directly related to the illness e.g. a person with diabetes on medicines for prostate disease should mention it. This will help the doctor to reach better conclusions.
- Mention the maximum details of your medical illness so that we can make meaningful conclusions about the problems. An email with details of the medical conditions and medicines ahead of the consultation will help better understand your disease.
- If you have serial investigations done over a period of time, please prepare a table with date and submit it accordingly.
- Please prepare ahead of time for the consultation. This will include ensuring adequate telephone/WIFI connection/facing the light while doing video consultation/ensuring mobile has enough charge etc.
- The centre cannot be considered responsible for failure of communication channels. This may happen due to internet failure, telephone line failure or power failure.
- The centre will provide a prescription at the end of consultation. The pharmacist will explain the medication details. For any specialised diet consultation, an additional consultation with the dietician has to be taken.
- Submitting the google form titled “Teleconsultation Request and Consent Form “implies consent to undertake the telemedicine consultation.
- If you are new client of Providence Endocrine and Diabetes Specialty Centre, your consultation will be considered as “SECOND OPINION”. You may not be provided with a new prescription, but the doctor will give professional opinions on diseases and treatments.
I realise that Telemedicine consultation is not an optimal method of consultation and cannot replace a physical consultation. I would still opt for a telemedicine consultation to take care of my current medical problem and have a physical visit with my consulting doctor as soon as I can.
