Video consultations with Curalie – consult a doctor online

Video consultations are becoming more and more popular

Video consultations were limited to a few select disciplines up until April 2019, but have gained a lot of momentum since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Doctors from almost any discipline have been able to offer online consultations since the fourth quarter of 2019. From dermatology to psychotherapy and even dentistry, patients needing almost any kind of care can benefit from the advantages of digital healthcare these days. That is true even if the patient has never visited that doctor’s office in person. Before the pandemic, the initial doctor-patient contact generally had to take place in person at the doctor’s office. The restrictions imposed by the German regulations on doctors’ fees have also been loosened, going from the previous rule that a maximum of 20% of medical services could be provided via video consultations in a given quarter to 30% now. If there has been at least one in-person contact between the doctor and patient in a quarter, video consultations can be used even more flexibly and more frequently with that patient.

All this means that booking appointments and seeing a doctor online have become routine at more and more doctor’s offices and for more and more people these days. Doctors can only use certified software and tools that have been tested by the statutory health insurers for video consultations. The Curalie app meets this requirement, of course. You can rest assured that all of the requirements set by the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and your health insurer on topics such as data protection and privacy are met.

According to the KBV, the number of video consultations rose to about 1.2 million in the second quarter of 2020. (5) There were “only” about 200,000 online consultations in the first quarter. The pandemic was a crucial factor in this development, of course, but the trend is set to have staying power due to the many advantages of video consultations.

Overview of advantages of video consultations:

• No risk of infection (cross-infection) and no wait times in hospitals or waiting rooms
• In rural areas, video consultations and telemedicine can help close the healthcare gap.
• Older people and those with mobility restrictions in particular can avoid lengthy and laborious trips to the doctor’s office.
• It is easy to ask interim and follow-up questions.
• Video consultations are an ideal way to meet patients’ increasing need for digital information, which is otherwise served by a wide range of Internet portals, a situation that can cause further uncertainty and spark anxiety. This way, patients can contact doctors directly and easily to clarify any questions they may have after doing research on Google.
• Doctor’s notes and typical seasonal illnesses like the common cold and flu take up less healthcare resources.
• Obtaining a second opinion after visiting the doctor is much easier, including as compared with paid second opinion portals.
• Follow-up questions on lab values or test results can be uploaded online conveniently and easily. Curalie has a specific secure upload area for this purpose.
• The technical requirements for doctors and patients to use video consultations and telemedicine like the options offered by Curalie are manageable (Internet connection, microphone, camera, and an app)

An online consultation is an effective way to fight uncertainty

There are strong arguments in favor of video consultations, especially increased efficiency for medical practices, reduced risk of infection, shorter wait times, and the opportunity for patients to ask doctors questions that they would otherwise ask Google alone. After all, more than one in two people in Germany now looks up symptoms of illness on the Internet regularly. (2) But only a third of those people go on to consult a doctor. (3)

Mobility restrictions, fear of in-person contact, and simple lack of time keep many people from visiting a doctor. These people are left on their own with their concerns, which may stem from online research itself, and they may not seek care for important symptoms.

Video consultations are much more flexible and easier to incorporate into daily life – regardless of where people live, their mobility, and their work schedules. All of this significantly reduces barriers to consulting a doctor. And that’s important, as medical advice is now more important than ever.

Google often provides wrong answers

A study by Edith Cowan University (ECU) found that the results of a Google search relating to medical symptoms lead to incorrect diagnoses in most cases. (4) Although the quality of search results is improving steadily, this still means there are currently millions of people who rely on incorrect information every day to make treatment decisions without a doctor’s advice or decide whether or not to make an appointment to see a doctor.

A similar picture emerges for the period immediately following a doctor’s appointment. About 60% of people in Germany google for a second opinion or alternatives to the recommended treatment immediately after seeing their doctor. (2) In these situations as well, video consultations are an excellent option, as they are a quick and easy way to ask a doctor for a second opinion online instead of turning to Google.

Safety first! Your data are safe with us

We want you to feel comfortable during your video consultation. Our goal is for you to be able to talk with our medical experts online with the same level of trust as usual. That’s why the security of your data is a top priority for us. We use a secure server to provide particular protection for your data. You don’t need to worry that anything you discuss with your online doctor might be accessible to others. The requirements concerning data protection and privacy are defined by entities including health insurers and the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and undergo regular review.

Our top priorities:

• Protecting your data
• Compliance with stringent security standards
• Doctor-patient confidentiality always applies, whether online or in person

No costs

And incidentally, a video consultation is completely free of charge for you. This format is paid for by all German statutory health insurers. Private patients can easily submit the bill afterward to their private health insurer for reimbursement of the costs. 

• Your health insurer foots the bill
• No added costs

In which medical specialties are online consultations possible and a good idea?

A video consultation is a very flexible option for you as a patient and for doctors as well. This option is available in almost all fields of medicine. With Curalie, general medical advice can be provided digitally. From advice to follow-up care, your online doctor is here to help you with expert advice.

We are also always hard at work on expanding the range of services we offer for online consultations to other fields and specializations.

In general, video consultations with the following types of specialists are available:

Typical symptoms and illnesses for which online consultations are a good idea

In general, telemedicine, which includes video consultations, is still in its early days. This means there will be more and more opportunities going forward. Right now, online consultations are especially suitable for general medicine, getting a second opinion, initial and follow-up advice, and to get a doctor’s note for work in case of simple seasonal illness. But more specific applications are also possible. Examples include skin cancer screening with a dermatologist and denture consultations.

Most frequent topics of video consultations:

Assumption of costs of video consultations by health insurers

Good news! Digital consultations are fundamentally covered by all German health insurances, and if you have health insurance, there is no cost to you. Many telemedicine services made great strides during the Covid-19 pandemic. Online consultations are now included in the regular services provided by physicians under the statutory health insurance system, for example. Your doctor bills for the video consultation just as he or she would for an in-person meeting, using your insurance information to interact directly with the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV). There is nothing more for you to do, and no cost to you.

• No cost to patients with German statutory health insurance
• If you have a German private insurance, you receive a bill for the online consultation in the mail at home. You can then submit this bill to your health insurer for reimbursement as usual.

Is it possible to get a doctor’s note for work online via video consultation?

In a word, yes! It is also possible to get a doctor’s note for work via a video consultation. If your doctor can get a good impression of you and your symptoms online, then he or she is allowed to issue a certificate stating that you are unable to work.

• Up to 3 days: If this is the first time your online doctor is meeting you
• Up to 7 days: If your online doctor already knows you

With Curalie, your doctor’s note is then simply sent to you at home by mail afterward.

If you are still not doing well after receiving your doctor’s note, it is important to visit a doctor in person for an examination. It is not yet possible in Germany to obtain a follow-up doctor’s note digitally, without personal contact.

For further questions about online consultations, please see the FAQ