How to avoid video becoming a time thief

Video consultations are often quicker

Regular consultations are usually scheduled to last 20 or 15 minutes. Video consultations are often shorter and more concise, the general practitioners say.

I set aside half an hour daily and had 2-7 consultations during this time. I encouraged patients who were comfortable with video to use this option, for example when they had undergone X-ray examinations and needed to discuss the results.

I usually don’t spend more than 5-10 minutes on a consultation – it’s usually very specific issues that are addressed.

For efficient organization of video consultations, it’s good to know that these consultations often become quicker.

Make it known – and don’t forget the medical secretary!

Most patients do not associate video consultations with their general practitioner but rather think of private providers. Therefore, it is important to make patients aware that video is an option.

General practitioners who maintain close communication with their medical secretaries about which issues are suitable for video consultations are very satisfied with this way of organizing it.

Since this fall, I have organized my schedule so that I have fixed video appointment times every day at 11:15, 11:20, and 11:25. Then it depends on what inquiries the secretaries receive the same day or the days before, whether the slots get booked.

In addition, many general practitioners suggest to suitable patients that any follow-up appointments can be done via video.

I inform patients during the appointment when it is appropriate for suitable patients (that is, not the oldest on the list).

I usually inform them during the appointment that they can use video for follow-up contact.

In addition, they put up posters in the waiting room and provide information about the service on their website and social media.

Save time with video time

Because video consultations are often shorter than regular consultations, many general practitioners choose to set aside parts of the day for so-called video time. This way, they can handle video consultations consecutively.

We have currently set aside 20 minutes every day for drop-in video appointments. This is scheduled right after lunch, so if there are no drop-ins, it’s a good opportunity to get paperwork done. Otherwise, I like to arrange with some patients that they contact me via video for further follow-up – I then recommend that they contact directly during drop-in.

We offer video consultations by appointment booked in the schedule. In addition, we have drop-in hours every Thursday from 1:00 PM to 1:40 PM.

I had a fixed time slot where people could log in without a prior appointment and wait until I took them in, on a drop-in basis. I set aside half an hour daily and had 2-7 consultations during this time.

Here you can read more about video time and its organization.

Some general practitioners also do video consultations more spontaneously, typically during times when they otherwise handle administrative work and phone calls.

We send SMS invitations from the switchboard (medical secretaries), and I sometimes use this myself when patients need to connect. I occasionally customize messages by reminding them of the time or similar details.

I use WebMeds SMS function and have created a fixed option with Confrere’s link to connect. It works excellently. I believe it will be effective for general practitioners to do the same.

How do you want to use video consultations?

The most common way to start with video consultations is to use them with familiar patients and known issues, typically for various types of follow-up appointments.

When both the patient and the issue are known, and it’s clear that no physical examination is required, it’s easier to get familiar with video consultations as a tool. Previously, 100 Norwegian general practitioners also responded to a survey about video consultations, which can provide insights into how video consultations can be adopted.

As you gain experience with some video consultations, it becomes easier to use them for other types of situations as well. General practitioners who get off to a good start find that drop-in video time is a way to make the day more efficient.

I do not experience video consultations as a time thief – rather, I find they help me maintain better schedule control. Previously, I had many phone consultations, with calls stretching into the afternoon and to patients who really should have had an in-person consultation. Now, the patient must show up at a defined time, the threshold is probably appropriately higher since they must pay a co-payment, and I get more information and quicker clarifications than I did over the phone.

Jeg synes det fungerer veldig godt med tjenesten og har ganske presise konsultasjoner. Får også brukt kamerafunksjonen en del ganger til å se på utslett eller skadde kroppsdeler. Det kan selvsagt ikke erstatte undersøkelse på kontoret i en del tilfeller, men noen ganger har jeg kommet godt til mål med oppfølgingen uten å måtte be de komme til meg, for eksempel at det er snakk om vannkopper.