Gillian Alexis¹, Ash Collins², Farhad Fatehi³

1 MyOnlineClinic Pty Ltd, Australia, gillian@myonlineclinic.com.au

2 MyOnlineClinic Pty Ltd, Australia, ash@myonlineclinic.com.au

3 Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, f.fatehi@uq.edu.au

Background

MyOnlineClinic (MOC) is a Telemedicine platform which provides access to primary care from general practitioners, specialists and Allied Health to Australian patients. It is designed primarily to improve access to primary care for the patients who find distance, mobility, or travel cost as a barrier. MOC enables patients to connect to their regular General Practitioner (GP) as well as other GPs using information and communications technology. The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate the functionalities of the system, describe the service model, and report the up-to-date usage status of the system by Australian patients and GPs.

Methods

MOC is mobile-based platform that has been developed originally by Telemedicine Australia Pty Ltd with support from the University of NSW and NSW Trade & Investment. It uses the latest video technology, Bluetooth devices and file-sharing solutions without the need for any additional software, to connect patients to GPs, pharmacies, pathology, and radiology. Under MOC, the patient downloads the App from the IOS/Android store, sets up their details and can consult directly by booking a doctors through their own App without need for Medical Receptionists. Should the patient need to speak to medical administration this is available through online chat function or calling a 1800#. Repeat consults, allows the patients history to be available to the doctor to better diagnose and offer more informed treatment and scripting.  Additionally the doctor can view past history and live diagnostic data during the consult.

Results

MOC makes it possible for patients to use their own desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smart-phone to make an appointment with a doctor, have video-consultation with the doctor and receive clinical advice, have their prescription sent to their local pharmacy and pay for the consultation online. MyOnlineClinic enables patients to collect their medical data such as temperature, blood pressure and blood glucose and communicate those information to their doctors. Doctors who use MOC can benefit from working remotely while being away from their clinic or surgery. This platform allows them to take care of their patients’ remotely as well as visit new patients who are seeking medical services. MOC allows the patient to have autonomy over their own medical records thus providing them freedom to choose the doctor, specialist or allied health professional of their choice.

Conclusion

MyOnlineClinic exhibits a unique telemedicine service and business model that can efficiently connect patients to Health Professionals, and improve access to primary medical care for Australians.