The place of personalised medical e-consultancy in the practice of telemedicine

Abstract

Summary Context Personalised medical e-consultancy (PMC) is a remote medical practice. For 15 years, it has been growing in some developed countries. PMC provides a response suited to the increasingly significant demand from our consumer society, which has become a society of immediacy and urgency. PMC is a difficult and risky practice for physicians. It requires a great deal of experience of medical practice. The organisers of PMC platforms and doctors who work there must respect current legislation and regulations. Methods This state of the art is based on a review of medical literature published between 1st January 1995 and 31st December 2014 and referenced in Medline. Results The author gives a definition of PMC compared to other healthcare information methods. It is worth reminding that the PMC is a recent medical practice which falls under the code of medical ethics and which requires an obligation of means. Based on a comparative analysis of a few European models (SAMU-Centre 15, NHS Direct and Medgate), the author draws the outlines of this medical practice in France. He specifies the limitations of PMC in comparison with a face-to-face consultation or teleconsultation. The benefits of PMC for the population are described, as well as its potential medical and economic impact in reducing the consumption of healthcare goods, especially on visits to hospital emergency services. The potential risks are analysed in terms of current regulations, especially those governing the practice of telemedicine which includes PMC. Conclusion This state of the art shows that PMC is part of telemedicine and responds to a societal demand, which must be taken into account by health authorities. However, its limitations and risks argue in favour of its integration into a care pathway in which a standard consultation and a teleconsultation, as defined by the telemedicine decree, keep their specificity.