A new service has been launched by Nuahealth that allows 360 GPs and clinicians from all over Ireland to provide online consultations to patients with coronavirus symptoms.
The Nuaheath service has been endorsed by the HSE following consultation with the Department of Health and is aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
The virtual clinic service has been developed by NuaHealth and fast-tracked through the app stores, including iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android (smartphones and tablets). The NuaHealth service can be used on any laptop or desktop computer with a camera, speaker and microphone.
“Everyone is coming together to help slow the spread of Covid-19”
The innovative technology, developed by NuaHealth, will allow doctors and clinicians to provide a virtual clinic and offer online consultations to their patients via smartphone, tablet and computer.
Members of the public who believe they have Covid-19/Coronavirus symptoms will be able to see their GP from the comfort of their home.
Preparing for the surge
Webdoctor clinical director Dr Sylvester Mooney with co-founder and CEO Oisin Kim
NuaHealth chief executive Oisin Kim said Ireland’s health service is facing challenges unthinkable just a few months ago, and things will only get worse with government predicting 15,000 Covid-19 infections by month’s end.
“Everyone is coming together to help slow the spread of Covid-19,” Kim said. “The agility shown by both Apple and Google in fast-tracking the app through the app stores review process with help from local Apple and Google people was astounding.”
He said more than 360 clinicians nationwide had already signed up to use the service.
“The Covid-19 crisis has seen my practice change beyond recognition in the last 10 days,” said Dr Nick Flynn of MyCorkGP.ie.
“Central to facilitating that change has been the addition of a video consultation solution from NuaHealth. User friendly, secure and provided at cost price, it has proven popular with our GPs but more importantly with our patients.”
The online doctor service comes following consultation with the Department of Health and HSE.
HSE Digital Transformation Director Prof. Martin Curley said: “We are pleased to partner with NuaHealth to produce a HSE branded video consultation tool for GPs and other healthcare providers in a matter of days. Their agility and the willingness to offer the service at cost price is a great exemplar of how the digital health ecosystem in Ireland is responding to the Covid 19 crisis.”
NuaHealth is the sister company of Webdoctor, which already supports the needs of over 750,000 patients throughout Europe. Using a comprehensive suite of modular technologies including secure video, secure in app messaging, clinical screening questionnaires, clinical decision support and laboratory and device integrations, it optimises clinical communication, reduces the time to treat and improves health outcomes.
Founded by Dr Sylvester Mooney, Oisin Kim, Howard Kim, Martin Commins, Krzysztof Adamski and Gerard Kelly in 2013, Webdoctor has been delivering telemedicine software and services for over six years.
Written by John Kennedy (john.kennedy3@boi.com)
Published: 20 March, 2020
