online consultations so as not to go to the guard

These days, the internet searches related to the COVID-19 in Argentina more than 400% were shot. The most requested information is linked to inquiring about the coronavirus itself, its symptoms and cases in the country.

In the era of connectivity and fakenews, social networks and everyday communication channels, such as WhatsApp, were filled with information that, in many cases, is not true or confirmed by specialized sources, which contributes to increasing confusion. .

The authorities recommend keeping calm, teleworking (if possible), quarantining when returning from another country and, if symptoms such as fever accompanied by cough are detected, call 107 in the city of Buenos Aires; or to 148, in the Province.

Furthermore, they emphasize not attending the guards or the hospitals any suspicion of disease, since the health system may collapse. In this context, the telemedicine emerges as an effective alternative and has begun to tour a exponential path.

“Statistics indicate that up to 50% of queries can be resolved through a virtual medium“he points out to iProUP pediatrician Martín Gruenberg. He adds that in many cases “guards are used for problem orientation or for queries associated with trivial inconveniences.”

With the spread of the pandemic, private health services and the new “digital” prepaid have deployed their solutions catalog to assist many people and, at the same time, ease the system.

“The number of contacts increased exponentially due to the coronavirus. As well as the curve of those infected, platform interaction grows strong“he explains to iProUP Ingrid Briggiler, CEO and founder of the platform “Calling the Doctor“, a tool for Galen’s telemedicine and incubated by CITES.

Furthermore, it confirms that “queries were multiplied by ten “ since local cases began to be confirmed. The tool allows live video calls to a doctor. “It was launched with three specialties, which are the most frequent: general medicine, pediatrics and tocogynecology“adds Carina Greco, Corporate Marketing Manager of Galen.

Online inquiries

East boom in web services responds to a global trend. The European Commission estimates that the global telemedicine market will be around 40,000 million euros in the next twelve months.

Even that number will be exceeded as concerns about the coronavirus increase demand.

“The telemedicine is key in this type of scenario, in which the infected rate multiplies alarmingly, “adds Briggiler, who says it is a critical tool to prevent the spread of disease.

“Yes one sick person goes to the guard or calls a doctor without taking the necessary precautions it is likely that spread to many others. Pass the same in reverse: if someone healthy goes to a hospital thinking they are sick, they can get the virus, “he exemplifies.

Swiss Medical It is one of the prepays that is innovating the most in the field of health. It has the integration of “DrApp”, a comprehensive platform for office management. From the web, the doctor can have 360º access to the history of your patients, with everything digitized, in addition to functioning as a shift manager.

“This reduces absenteeism and provides greater control with all medical records. Thus, the doctor can work with other professionals together “, assures iProUP Agustín Theodorou, head of communication for DrApp.

With 4,500 professionals who use the platform every day and 1,200 associated sanitariumsThis app provides a flexible solution that fits both small offices and large clinics.

Swiss Medical is not the only one who works remotely: Osde, Medifé, Omint and Sancor Salud also include some kind of virtual assistance. Also, in these types of scenarios it is important that anyone can access clear information and backed by a professional.

“People are concerned about everything they hear about the coronavirus. So we started our Medical Forum, so they can get answers from qualified professionals, for free and from the comfort of their homes“assures iProUP Mathias Sielecki, CEO and co-founder of Wiri, one of the first digital prepaid.

In this virtual space, there are only two types of users: on the one hand, patients, who seek to evacuate doubts; on the other, the doctors, in charge of answering them.

“This is the first Medical Forum in Argentina to help combat COVID-19 professionally. It tries to cut with the chain of misunderstandings and false information that tend to be around this type of pandemic, “adds the founder.

Digital solutions

In times of crisis, good ideas arise. So a group of technological entrepreneurs developed a app to reduce expansion of the virus. CoTrack use the GPS of the devices and cross this information with the movement record of infected people. In case of having a “match”, send an alert and the steps to follow.

East “Coronavirus Happn“(referring to the popular dating app that unites people passing through the same places) seeks to detect risk areas contact and keep a record with official information, verified by the Ministry of Health.

Beyond the expansion of the pandemic, the “healthtech” segment is in full growth in Argentina. So much so that more digital solutions are emerging, which have the flexibility of an enterprise but also the support of the traditional health system.

“We are a company that provides accessible services. We were born as a result of a problem: 50% of Argentines depend on the public health system, being informal workers or monotributistas “, points to iProUP Andrés Lawson, from Osana Salud.

This firm offers all the attention from an app: with a simple video consultation replicates the figure of the doctor of family. “70% of the requirements are resolved through a call,” remarks the executive.

In the last days, Osana Health released for free the 24-hour video consultation service for any Argentine user. Those interested “must register on the website to have everything ready in case they need to use the service. We invite all users to share the link with people who may need it.”

According to Lawson, the company’s objective is “to understand people not only from health, but also from the social level, understanding their limitations.” In this way, a “online doctor” can derive the request to another specialiste-mail a prescription or even guide you to call an ambulance.

Another digital prepaid is Klimber’s Vitality, a joint-venture formed by Grupo Clarín and the insurance company Prudential, which launched its own benefit in recent months.

“Is a alternative plan to a prepaid or social work that covers basic needs, emergencies, medical consultations, discounts for studies and pharmacies, “reveals iProUP Dolores Egusquiza, Head of Marketing at Klimber Salud.

The company offers a use 100% digital through its website and provides the application “Online Doctor“to evacuate all kinds of doubts through the mobile before going to a guard. In addition, it offers modular covers to put together a “custom” plan.

On the other hand, for those diagnosed with diseases that require high-cost medication, there is Clonify, a argentine platform which enables reduce costs and the time of access to a treatment.

It is on their website and app get free information, notifications, control and monitoring of the steps that must be followed and processed to access the treatments. Although there is no formal registry, it is estimated that more than 3 million Argentines suffer from chronic diseases.

“We seek to connect medicines with people in an easier, more efficient, faster, and more direct way by using technologies like Big Data and Artificial Intelligence throughout the process, accompanying people to access more and better information and their medication in a timely manner, “concludes Martín Ries Centeno, Founder and CMO of Clonify.