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Stop relying on self-medication. Dial a doctor instead Facilities to call in a medical practitioner at home for nonserious and nonemergency cases is a better way to deal with common illnesses ■■ Suneeti Ahuja-Kohli
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ometimes non-urgent medical conditions and ailments such as a runny nose or an awful body ache are enough to knock you down, especially on a weekday, and snap energy levels. What do you do in such a case? Pop in a popular multi-common-disease fighting tablet every four to six hours and hope to get better? You aren’t alone. As per survey results of a study conducted in four cities in India by Perspectives in Clinical Research, people often rely on self-medication for fever, headache and abdominal pain. A majority of the people surveyed said self-medication is harmless and they would use it again and advice others also. Going to a pharmacist and getting a tablet or two is easier than visit a medical doctor at a clinic. However, self-medication is an important health issue and various studies have reported that it may lead to delay in seeking care, which might lead to a delay in the diagnosis of underlying conditions and appropriate treatment, states the study. So what do you do if you have common cold or a seemingly harmless disorder? Had we been
writing this article a few years back, the only option we would have offered is to visit a doctor at a clinic or a hospital. But today with the advances in medical industry, we have alternative choices available such as calling a doctor home. Many medical establishments in the UAE and abroad are working on ways to make medical services accessible to patients at home. In case of private companies, this is especially true for non-emergency cases. In the UAE, companies such as Dial a Doctor, Manzil Health and After Hours offer medical visits at home, hotels, and offices in case of need. The medical staff is equipped to deal with non-emergency cases and in some cases also issue a sick leave medical certificate, if required. “You are really sick, and maybe it is obvious it is flu, which you know will pass after a few days
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with some cold or flu tablets, but you still need to go to a doctor to obtain a sick certificate for your employer. Therefore, the opportunity to receive a sick certificate while at home will most likely be seen as an important benefit. The convenience of the doctor consulting at home and prescribing medication as per the patient needs will be useful as well,” said Ann Helen Viken, Managing Director, Manzil Health. Next time you aren’t feeling well, don’t act like a doctor; call one instead. neeti@khaleejtimes.com
Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre
Patient-centered care Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre provides expert medical advice at the touch of a button Are you a parent with a question about your or your child’s health in the middle of the night? Or are you travelling, busy at work or simply short on time and need to speak quickly with a qualified doctor for a non-emergency medical condition? Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre, part of Mubadala’s network of world-class healthcare providers, enables 24/7 access to high quality healthcare over the phone – always speaking with a bi-lingual medical professional in English and Arabic – uniquely to the region, in a convenient and flexible way for patients, whether they are in the UAE or while traveling abroad. The Centre applies the latest technology to safely and confidentially address common healthcare problems, and since its opening in 2014, the Centre’s team of specially, internationally-trained doctors and nurses have diagnosed over 1,300 different nonemergency medical conditions ranging from influenza and allergies to paediatric and skin conditions. Over 50 per cent of
callers do not need to see another physician with their treatment determined there and then. The consultation process is simple and convenient: 1. Call the Centre’s UAE toll-free number 800-4959 or use the Quick Call feature on the Centre’s free mobile app, TeleMed. 2. Speak with a nurse, who will ask about symptoms and record the necessary personal information. 3. Within just 30 minutes, one of the Centre’s experienced doctors will call back for a full medical consultation. If the doctor determines that an in-person consultation is needed, they will recommend specialised doctors who are nearby, and also covered by the patient’s insurance plan. Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre is designed to deliver patientcentered care during which the Centre’s medical team allot time to talk through each patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan, and also conduct follow-up calls as necessary, to make sure patients are both satisfied with their experience, and have received the care they needed. Call 800-4959, download the TeleMed mobile app, or visit telemed.ae to learn more.
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Manzil Health
When the Doctor comes visiting Manzil Health brings the Doctor to your doorstep ■■ Sadiq Shaban Founded by Dr Ghuwaya Al Neyadi in 2011, Manzil Healthcare Services provides clinical care services for patients at home. The Doctor At Home programme is one such service providing doctor home visits in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. “We developed the concept earlier this year by remembering our own childhood doctor who came on home visits when we
were sick as kids. This service has mostly disappeared in many countries now. Having the ability to offer Doctor-at-Home visits will offer both convenience and personalised care that most people appreciate and find helpful,” Ann Helen Viken, Managing Director, Manzil Healthcare Services told Khaleej Times. The Doctor-at-Home service targets nationals and expatriates alike. Anyone who is sick and prefers to stay in bed and not visit a hospital or medical centre can benefit from this service. It is important to know that this covers non-emergency conditions
only. For emergencies call 999 or go as fast as possible to an emergency department. Patients can submit a claim form to their insurance provider and get reimbursed as per their plan benefits. “Since the Doctor At Home programme is in its early stages, we envision growing rapidly in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and hope to expand the service to Dubai in 2016. The programme currently is led by two female HAAD licensed physicians, Dr Hiba and Dr Aisha serving patients across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. — sadiq@khaleejtimes.com