As the Occitanie regional health agency (ARS) explains, the implementation of telemedicine is a “key issue for improving the health system and access to care throughout the territory”. To participate in the development of telemedicine in France, pharmacists accompany the patient and the teleconsulting doctor during the remote medical appointment, during teleconsultations carried out within the pharmacy itself.
1. Pharmacy teleconsultation: what is it for?
Pharmacy teleconsultation allows you to consult a general practitioner or specialist remotely, while being accompanied by another health professional: the pharmacist. The latter then has several missions. He can be present to launch the teleconsultation, if the patient is not comfortable with new technologies. It can also assist the doctor during the clinical examination, but also take various measurements using connected medical devices such as a connected stethoscope, a connected otoscope, a blood pressure monitor or an oximeter.
Thanks to pharmacy teleconsultation, the patient can obtain an accurate medical diagnosis, medical advice and a suitable prescription, because two healthcare professionals can be involved in the process. These remote consultations carried out within pharmacies have been authorized since 2019. They aim to strengthen access to care throughout France, and particularly in medical deserts. Pharmacy teleconsultation is in fact accessible to all patients. This is therefore a particularly useful solution when no general practitioner or specialist is available nearby.
2. Pharmacy teleconsultation: how does it work?
Some pharmacies offer teleconsultations without an appointment. In this case, all you have to do is go directly to the pharmacy, and the pharmacist will seat the patient as soon as possible for the teleconsultation. In other cases, it is necessary to make an appointment at the pharmacy offering this service. In all cases, you must go to the pharmacy teleconsultation with your health card and a payment card. You should also remember to take all the documents necessary for the consultation, such as the results of a blood test or the health record. The consultation then takes place like a classic medical consultation, with an exchange with the doctor by video and support from the pharmacist if necessary. This interview takes place in an isolated space, guaranteeing confidentiality. The pharmacist is only present if the patient requests it. The consultation can therefore also be done in complete autonomy, only between the patient and the doctor, the latter appearing on the video.
3. In which pharmacies can teleconsultations be carried out?
Many pharmacies offer teleconsultation throughout France, whether in mainland France or in the overseas territories. Pharmacists offering this service receive flat-rate assistance for the purchase of equipment, and fee-for-service payment, depending on the number of teleconsultations carried out. Pharmacies equipped to carry out teleconsultations indicate this with a poster on their window. Otherwise, it is advisable to telephone or ask directly at the counter if it is possible to do a teleconsultation within the pharmacy, and what the exact arrangements are. However, not all pharmacies offer this type of service, because a pharmacy offering teleconsultation must have certain equipment. She must have an isolated space or a cabin, in order to carry out the consultation in complete confidentiality. It must have a terminal or station on which specific connection software is installed. Finally, the pharmacy must have several connected medical objects on site to take the necessary measurements during the consultation.
4. How much does a pharmacy teleconsultation cost?
A pharmacy teleconsultation has the same cost as a traditional consultation, carried out in a doctor’s office. The coverage by Health Insurance is exactly the same. It is in fact specified on the Public Service website that “ teleconsultation is part of a care pathway allowing reimbursement “. The doctor or pharmacist specifies the method of payment, such as payment online or by credit card for example, before the video consultation. If the teleconsultation must be carried out with a specialist doctor, it is necessary to contact your treating doctor beforehand, as if making an appointment in person with a specialist.
Sources
- Telemedicine, Occitanie Regional Health Agency
- Telehealth: Telemedicine (teleconsultation, telemonitoring, etc.), Public service, January 1, 2024
- Telemedicine: assistance with teleconsultation in pharmacies, Health Insurance, June 12, 2023