Especially when skin problems occur acutely, long waiting times for an appointment at a dermatological practice are a problem for many sufferers. OnlineDoctor – the leading provider of teledermatology in Switzerland – has been offering e-prescriptions for patients as part of a pilot project since mid-August. Currently, more than a quarter of all dermatological practices are already connected to OnlineDoctor.
Dermatologists can be consulted online via the OnlineDoctor.ch platform [1,2]. People with a skin problem make a request and select a dermatologist. The service is particularly suitable for diagnostics, wound and progress monitoring, and triaging of acute cases. Patients can upload photos of the affected area of their body and answer questions about their skin problem to an intelligent chat assistant. This means that 85 percent of requests can be processed and completed completely digitally. If drug therapy is necessary from a doctor’s point of view, the patient receives an e-prescription together with the diagnosis and personal recommendations for action. The physician signs this prescription with a legally compliant electronic signature, the so-called HIN signature. This is a digital counterpart to the handwritten signature. Medications can be picked up by patients at their selected on-site pharmacy or delivered directly to their home via online pharmacy. OnlineDoctor’s service is usually a self-pay service, but several major health insurers in Switzerland offer discounted rates for certain areas. The Professional Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD) has also started a cooperation with the Swiss provider Online-Doctor [3]. For those insured by the German Techniker Krankenkasse health insurance fund and 50 other statutory health insurance funds in Germany, the costs of online counseling are covered. Excluded from this are clarifications of birthmarks.
What are the biggest benefits for the dermatology practice?
The OnlineDoctor digital platform is an optimal triage and process optimization tool that can be easily integrated into everyday practice thanks to its ease of use [3]. The requests can also be processed from home. OnlineDoctor uses a structured text-based dialog system. The physician then receives the relevant information – in compliance with data protection regulations – and receives comparatively good remuneration for each case processed [3]. The concept was designed by dermatologists for dermatologists and has already been successfully established. The use is free of charge with professional support at the same time.
Secure data transmission is guaranteed
The e-prescription is provided with a QR code containing the binding data and the doctor’s signature. It includes the same information as a common paper prescription. Patients decide whether the e-prescription should be filled on-site or online at a pharmacy. The selected on-site or online pharmacy only has to have the technical requirements for reading and redeeming the prescription. OnlineDoctor uses the HCI Solutions solution Documedis® to create and redeem e-prescriptions. The electronic signature and the validity check are performed via the HIN Sign service. There is no storage of health data by external partners. Dr. rer. soc. Tobias Wolf, co-founder of OnlineDoctor, reiterates the importance of a secure e-prescription solution: “In the past, there have been numerous attempts by providers to issue prescriptions in the digital space as well. The authentication of the medical staff and the secure transmission have been major challenges so far. We are therefore very pleased to have successfully transferred the paper prescription into the digital world in compliance with all legal requirements together with our partners” [1].
Interest in teledermatology services has increased
According to experts, teledermatology is becoming increasingly important. This is reflected not only in increased demand, but also in an increase in research interest. The S2k guideline on teledermatology published 2020 under the auspices of the German Dermatological Society (DDG) and the Professional Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD) summarizes evidence-based recommendations for the use of teledermatology in the areas of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, chronic wounds, and other skin diseases [3]. Currently OnlineDoctor is a market leader in Europe for teledermatology services. In Switzerland, it is planned that the electronic prescription can be filled in all pharmacies in Switzerland.
OnlineDoctor received Health-i Award
Behind the Swiss start-up OnlineDoctor, founded in 2016, is a team of dermatologists, business economists, software developers and key account managers [3]. The dermatologist Dr. med. Paul Scheidegger founded the company together with the two health business experts Dr. rer. soc. Tobias Wolf and Dr. oec. Philip S. F. Wustrow. Currently, over 25 percent of all dermatology practices are connected to OnlineDoctor and 80,000 people have already used the service [1,2]. In addition, more than 300 pharmacies use OnlineDoctor’s Pro app to provide their customers with specialist advice on skin problems. Hamburg-based Techniker Krankenkasse and Düsseldorf-based Handelsblatt Media Group honored OnlineDoctor with their joint Health-i Award [5]. With the award in the corporate category, the jury recognized the digital offering of the innovative start-up company.
Literature:
- “OnlineDoctor Launches Pilots for E-Prescription in Switzerland,” Aug. 11, 2022, www.onlinedoctor.ch, (last accessed Sept. 15, 2022).
- OnlineDoctor.ch, www.onlinedoctor.ch/wie-funktioniert-onlinedoctor, (last accessed Sept. 15, 2022).
- “OnlineDoctor,” Professional Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD), www.bvdd.de/mitmachen/onlinedoctor, (last accessed Sept. 15, 2022).
- Hautzentrum am Kurpark, www.hautzentrum-am-kurpark.de/onlinedoctor, (last accessed 15.09.2022)
- “OnlineDoctor Receives Health-i Award” www.sg.ch/news/sgch_standortfoerderung/2022/09/onlinedoctor-erhaelt-health-i-award.html, (last accessed Sept. 15, 2022).
- Augustin M, et al: S2k guideline: telemedicine care in dermatology, 2020, AWMF registry no: 013-097.
DERMATOLOGIE PRAXIS 2022; 32(5): 20-21
