05 juli 2022 • Deventer • 3 minute read
Source: Telegraaf, 4 July 2022. In order to reduce waiting times, Spreekuur.nl was launched in March 2020 - coincidentally at the exact moment that the first lockdown began - the first digital GP consultation and practice in the Netherlands. The online consultations are now accessible to 2.5 million people.
‘Of course we never thought corona would erupt,’ says co-initiator Rosa Scherjon of Spreekuur.nl. ‘But because people no longer dared to go to the doctor's surgery, the site exploded after the launch. Many people liked the fact that they could get fast and personal medical advice from a distance.’
Spreekuur.nl is an initiative of IT company Topicus and e-health start-up DigiDok. Rosa Scherjon works for Topicus in the healthcare division and came up with the idea for an application for digital consultations. ‘We had noticed for some time that waiting times were increasing due to shortages in healthcare. At the same time, patients are becoming more self-reliant and have a greater need for personal control. Many people come to the GP or GP after-hours clinic with a low-urgent complaint, such as skin infections, wounds or fever. Not everyone has the time or inclination to come to the doctor's surgery and sit in the waiting room for a long time.’
In order to use the doctor's and triage operator's time as efficiently as possible, patients prepare for their consultation by completing a digital questionnaire and possibly attaching a photo.
Communication with the doctor can then take place via chat. ‘Because the doctor needs to ask fewer additional questions, the diagnosis can usually be made quickly, without the need to see the patient in person,’ explains Scherjon. ‘If not, the doctor can ask someone to come to the clinic after all or contact their own GP. Of course, in case of emergency, action is taken immediately.’
Spreekuur.nl is not yet available throughout the country, as it is dependent on the cooperation of general practitioners and GP after-hours clinics. Eemland (Amersfoort and Barneveld area) was the first, followed by Rotterdam, Drenthe, Nijmegen, Axel and Breda. Scherjon hopes that more regions will follow. ‘It must also be future-proof,’ she says.
‘The pressure on healthcare is only increasing, we see it getting busier and busier at the GP centres. There are other e-care concepts nationwide, but they employ their own doctors. So you're still fishing in the same pond where there is already a shortage. Because we work with existing GP practices and after-hours clinics, the staff are relieved of their workload and that makes the care cheaper at the same time.’
So far, 55,000 digital consultations have already taken place. The largest group of users are parents with children and people between 26 and 65 years of age. The oldest patient was 96 years old. ‘It is not complicated either,’ says Scherjon. ‘In Corona time, many older people have learned the benefits of digital tools such as WhatsApp and video calling. They often find it convenient that they no longer have to come to the practice. Another advantage: they can read back the doctor's advice. During a physical consultation you don't always remember exactly what was said.”
According to Scherjon, this certainly does not mean that the option of going to the GP will disappear. ‘Care remains people work, it must always remain a combination. Currently, 10% of the consultations are handled digitally, but that should certainly be able to increase to 50 or 60%. For those who do like to see their GP in person, that's great. Because more people can be helped per hour, waiting times will be shorter.’
The time spent by healthcare professionals in a digital consultation is on average 13 minutes shorter than in a physical consultation. This is also faster than a telephone consultation or self-care advice.
81% of consultations on the app could be handled digitally, especially problems with medication, insect bites and skin complaints. In 19% of cases, a physical consultation at the GP's office was still necessary, especially for cystitis, falls/knocks and stomach ache.
86% of digital users were satisfied with the way their complaint was handled. They felt they were taken seriously and had the feeling that sufficient time was allocated to them.
Please contact Rosa Scherjon or check Spreekuur.nl.
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