Docs take up consultation via social media, ensure social distancing

TNN | Mar 27, 2020, 04.55 AM IST

Madurai: Doctors are finding ways to communicate with their patients using technology and social media during this period of social distancing, thereby ensuring that people are not unwontedly exposed to harm. They are monitoring patients, following up and also calming them down through video calls and chats.

Geriatrician Dr N Raja has started consulting his patients through video on WhatsApp. “I shut my clinic for consultation four days back after the Prime Minister ordered the country to go into lockdown. Soon after, I started anxious calls from my patients,” he said.

One of his patients who is undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis wanted to know if it was safe to continue with his medication as he had read that it has side effects. “This is because the patient was overloaded with information on quinone, a name that has been making rounds since the (Covid-19) crisis started,” he said.

Another patients of his had read that the drugs he was taking for hypertension could make him susceptible to the deadly virus. “This is when I ask them to come on a video call and reassure them to take the drug for another month,” he said, adding that he and many other private practitioners do not want to expose patients to any unwanted infection, and hence suggested those on long term medication to continue for another month.

Gynaecologist Dr Revathy Janakiram said she was using social media to provide free consultation to keep them comfortable. “I have a staff nurse and an office assistant in my clinic in case there is an emergency delivery, otherwise I speak to them over WhatsApp, prescribe necessary medicines and follow up after six hours to know how they are doing,” she said. For now, her relief is that most of the deliveries of her patients are scheduled for the first week of April.

K M G Vivekanandham, 66, a patient, said consulting over the phone was a relief. “Being connected with your doctor at times like this is a boon as telephone consulting is the only solution here,” he said.

Dr Raja adds, “Most of my patients have ailments like diabetes and hypertension and many are equipped with devices to know their blood sugar levels and pressure. Hence, counselling them to continue with medication is not a problem. It is only people who do not have monitors that is a matter of concern.” Many private practitioners are also working round-the-clock, like the counterparts in government service, over the phone. “We cannot afford to ignore the calls, so have to answer them,” the doctors said.