Introduction
The Tele-consultation product of company Connect Compusoft Pvt Ltd (KCS Healthcare is called Health Connect. They provide only mobile based applications for the doctors.They do not have a dedicated product for the patient. There is also an option for white-labelling the solution.
Size of Healthcare Provider
a. Individual Clinician
b. Clinics
Level of Specialization supported by the solution
a. Primary
Expert Panel Evaluation
The solution includes a web based application for doctors and patients. Doctors can interact with patients in only a synchronous manner; Chat based consultation is not available. The platform has an easy to use interface for doctors that supports basic teleconsultation sessions documentation. Doctor gets a notification once the patient is ready to join. Doctors can set availability schedules and also on request provide slots to patients. UI support across time-zones (conversion), reminder and notification for both patient doctors, making it suitable for doctor’s operating across countries. Doctors could set alerts and reminders for patients based on the medical diagnostic reports like keratin or Hb1ac alerts. Doctor can fix follow-up consultation for the patient and notification is sent to the patient.
Platform provides easy capturing of medical conditions through drop-down menu options. Apart from the patient-shared clinical condition, the doctor can also record the details of current medication taken. Doctors can use an annotation interface with body outline (both gender) available. Organ charts are available where the doctor can mark the site etc. Template for note taking of consultation as per clinical specialization not available, doctors have access to EHR available during video call when complete solution is provided by the company. Doctors could share files during consultation, and get additional files from patients. Features of third-party EHR integration were not present at the time of demo. During video call the doctor is required to switch back between two tabs to enter details and look at patients. Consultation ends when the doctor decides to end the call and is not limited to time duration. Doctor is expected to disconnect the call and then only take notes. Doctors could customize their own medication list. Doctors need to write generic names, no standard drug database integrated. Prescription is generated via platform and could be shared as scan/photo of handwritten prescription. The platform is more suitable for doctors who prefer taking notes on paper and then uploading images on the doctor, for teleconsultation. Platform does not have a facility for digital signature and the digitized image of the doctor’s signature is appended at the end of prescription.
Doctors can have a single profile only. Doctors could do multi-party consultation. Doctors could add anyone to consultation, other people need not be registered users, and do not need a device. Platform provides a facility to cancel appointments and reschedule to admin.
Every consultation session consent is taken using an online form stating non-emergency care consulting. , Platform generates detailed dynamic consent forms and disclaimer is also provided to the patient. Video is recorded on the consent of both doctor and patient. Platform provides a facility to restrict and customize minimum time duration for appointment booking and thus ensuring sufficient time for consultation. Product is customized for oncologists. No option available for multiple-languages, only available in English language.
They have video based training modules and help manuals. In person support and training is provided depending on the business models. Most mass training sessions for one expert doctor are organized. In the case of onboarding of individual doctors they provide their coordinator to both doctor and patient to help in preparation for online consultation.
It was informed that the platform has SNOMED and ICD-10 support for recording of diagnosis, LOINC for laboratory report and HL7 v2.8 to exchange data between HMIS and LIS in a single hospital environment. The solution does not support the data content and exchange standards as required by EHRSI-2016. It is informed that the application uses relevant security standards for data transmission and storage (AES-256 bit encryption). Additionally, the application is HIPAA and GDPR compliant and ISO 27001:2013 certified. Digital signatures are not supported and signing is supported through scanned signatures for prescriptions. Patients are not having control over records’ access, once details are on the platform, all doctors in a hospital having login could access their records.
Patients can also book appointments for family members and loved ones. Family accounts can be maintained. Mobile number is the user name. Appointment can be fixed through web, app and through the front office, Call is initiated by either the patient or the doctor. Patient UHID is verified with hospital EMR. multi currency payment, patients could upload x ray and other reports. Same contact number can be used to manage different accounts. Patients can select records and generate record links which can be shared with other doctors. There is a unique password for every user. Emergency contact of patients (good for mental health) and patients could book appointments for the dependent. For dependent management, ID proof is mandatory. Group call Is possible, limited to 3 parties (doctor, patient, another doctor/ Patient relative). Link is sent from the primary consultant’s side.
Doctor / Specialty search option is available for patients. Doctors are sent multiple notifications and in case of delay patients also get notification. Patient gets a cloud facility to keep records (and keep on a local device also) and the patient has control over the records. Integrated payment and personal record management interface is provided to patients. Patients get one integrated record for a particular hospital and they can upload a digitized report or scanned image record (maintain PHR). Fingerprint login is there.
Solution Maturity Level
a. TPG complaint: 3b
b. Feature complexity: 4 partial