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According to the WHO, cancer is one of the most common causes of death. In 2018, about 9.6 million people died from cancer. The statistics are impressive and disappointing. It seems that this reason alone is enough to make an appointment with an oncologist. Unfortunately, many people put off taking care of themselves for later.
The MediGlobus team reminds you that now you don’t have to go to another country to get to a good specialist. You can get a consultation from the comfort of your apartment. In this article you will learn about oncologist’s remote appointment and in what cases it will be useful.
Online consultation with an oncologist: what is it?
Each overseas clinic provides remote medical consultations for patients from anywhere in the world. An online appointment is a video conference with an oncologist, where he assesses the patient’s condition and selects the appropriate treatment.
During the online meeting with the doctor you will be able to discuss your well-being and further therapy. In turn, the doctor will interpret the results of the tests and talk about possible treatment options even under the current quarantine. There are at least 5 reasons why patients with oncology seek remote assistance. We will now look at each one in more detail.
Reason No. 1: opportunity to get a second opinion
Patients often sign up for an online consultation to get a second opinion on the diagnosis or treatment prescribed.
According to statistics, 41% of patients ask for a second opinion because of doubts about the correctness of the diagnosis.
This is normal, because when a person is diagnosed with cancer, they ask themselves whether another doctor can interpret the test results differently and offer another treatment.
Consultation with another oncologist helps to assess the situation more clearly and see the prospects for recovery. The second opinion allows the patient to feel more confident.
The most common reasons that make a cancer patient consult with another specialist are:
lack of confidence that the doctor has offered all possible options;
rare type of cancer;
lack of doctor’s competence in a specific type of cancer;
problems with rapport between the patient and the doctor;
doubts about the correctness of the diagnosis;
desire to double-check the correctness of the prescribed treatment;
need to check the prescribed measures upon request from the insurance company.
Online consultation with an oncologist helps to solve any of these requests. The pro of remote meetings is that you can get advice from any specialist of a foreign clinic, from an ordinary doctor to a top oncologist who tops the FOCUS ratings.
Read: Reason No. 2: consultation with a specialised doctor
Many patients in third-world countries lack specialized doctors in local hospitals.
This means that regardless of the type of disease, whether the patient has pancreatic or prostate cancer, they are treated by the same doctor. This approach may not produce effective results, and it will lead to a loss of time and a deterioration of the patient’s health.
Foreign medical centres follow the principle of personal treatment. Therefore, hospitals have departments for each type of oncology.
For example, the Breast Cancer Center, the Prostate Cancer Department, the Oncohematology Department. Doctors who work in such centers are specialized physicians who have extensive experience in treating specific types of cancer.
Therefore, patients who want personalized treatment after the examination are registered for a remote consultation with a narrowly focused oncologist. During this consultation, the doctor examines the test results in detail and chooses an individual treatment plan.
Reason No. 3: opportunity to get recommendations from a top oncologist
The remote appointment helps not only to get all the necessary information without travelling abroad, but also allows contacting the best oncologists. For example, patients who have been diagnosed with lung cancer can get advice from Dr. Rafael Rossel. The doctor has been practicing for over 40 years. According to The Lancet Oncology, he was ranked first on the list of the best oncologists in Europe.
Patients who need a trustworthy opinion on the treatment of breast cancer can have an online consultation with Professor Moshe Inbar. Dr. Inbar is a world-renowned doctor and author of unique treatment schemes for cancer patients. The MediGlobus team will help to contact any specialist of the best clinics in the world so that each patient can receive quality medical care.
Reason No. 4: comfort and convenience
Remote consultation also affects the level of comfort of oncological patients and facilitates communication between the doctor and the patient. Being at home makes it much easier for a person to tell the doctor about the symptoms of the disease. Also, online consultation is appointed at a convenient time for the patient, and the process takes place without haste, unlike the usual reception in local hospitals.
Another advantage of remote communication with a doctor is that there are no risks of catching another disease. Given that cancer has a strong impact on general health, it won’t hurt to be more careful and reduce the likelihood of other infections.
Reason No. 5: cost and time savings
Time is one of the key factors determining the outcome of oncology treatment. A remote consultation involves a quick appointment with the doctor and a call within a few days. This means that the patient receives an urgent expert opinion on the diagnosis and possible treatment.
Also, an oncologist’s remote appointment eliminates the need to move the patient. All you need is an internet connection and some free time. In such conditions, the person saves on the cost of flight, visa and hotel fees.
What do you need for an online consultation?
To get advice from an oncologist, you need to fill out an application on the website or contact a MediGlobus platform specialist on +38 063 514 49 56. During the communication, a MediGlobus employee will specify which specialist you want to contact or help you choose a doctor based on your individual needs. Then you agree on the date, time, format and cost of consultation. Immediately after the agreement, all medical records and reports should be sent to the doctor so that the doctor can review them before the appointment.
Then the clinic provides details for payment of consultation. After receiving the funds, the exact time of online reception is double-checked. On the appointed day, you will contact your doctor by video link via Skype, Viber or Whatsapp. If necessary, an interpreter will be present during the appointment. During the consultation, the doctor will give you advice on treatment, but will not write prescriptions, as this is against the law. After your appointment, you will receive a therapy plan and, if necessary, recommendations for additional examinations, which can be taken at your local hospital.
The cost of online consultation with a foreign oncologist
The price of a remote consultation with an oncologist depends on the country selected and the qualifications of the doctor, but usually equals the cost of a face-to-face appointment. However, the cost may vary depending on the doctor’s qualifications. An on-line appointment with an ordinary doctor will cost less than a consultation with a professor. Approximate prices are:
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| South Korea | from $120 |
| Turkey | from $140 |
| Austria | from €400 |
| Страна | Стоимость |
|---|---|
| Spain | from €450 |
| Germany | from €500 |
| Israel | from $550 |
Resume
The online consultation is a video conference with the doctor, during which they can make a diagnosis and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan.
Almost all foreign clinics provide video consultations. In this case, you can make an appointment with an ordinary oncologist, as well as a top specialist.
It is possible to consult a doctor who treats a specific type of cancer rather than a general oncologist.
There’s no rush during the remote consultation. Communication takes place at a pre-planned time and in a comfortable environment for the patient.
For consultation you need internet access and any of these applications: Skype, Viber or Whatsapp.
The cost of an online consultation is the same as that of a face to face one.
If you want to make an online appointment with an oncologist, leave an application through the “Get a free consultation” button. After that you will be contacted by the MediGlobus representative and will be able to find a doctor for consultation.
