Fibernet connection has improved the way we choose our broadband internet connection

Rather than risking yours and your loved ones health by meeting a doctor in person for a consultation, these days you can opt for an online consultation with Doctors which requires a high speed broadband connection. Most hospitals are now providing online consultations with doctors for patients for non-emergency situations. In fact, since April there is a 50% increase in the number of patients seeking virtual appointments.

Virtually seeing a doctor means lowering your risk of contracting COVID significantly. Whilst most people are donning masks, keeping a six foot distance, and sanitizing frequently, you can never be sure that everyone is complying with the rules. Even the briefest contact with someone who has the virus can result in you contracting it, and passing it onto you, your family and many others. If you live in a big city, there are always people coming and going who could bring the virus with them. At a hospital, there are also always other diseases you can easily contract which can be harmful, or can make you more susceptible to COVID-19. You could potentially contract a worse disease that you already have. To avoid infection from people at the hospital, taking an online consultation is the best option.

If you have a cold, the flu, COVID-19, or symptoms of other diseases that don’t require physical check/ diagnosis by doctor but only medicine, online consultations are ideal for you. Doctors are doing their best to make online consultations as helpful and thorough as in-person consultations. They have set up platforms where you can first book an appointment, and then share your concerns and receive your diagnosis over telephone or video call. Patients are also sending descriptions, pictures, and videos over WhatsApp straight to doctors.

An online doctor consultation works in a very similar way to a face-to-face in-person consultation. The way that online consultations work is that as with a face-to-face consultation, you have to book your appointment online or through phone with the hospital. You can check out on each hospital’s website when and what time each doctor is available. Before you choose your doctor, you should do a little research to ensure that you are choosing the right doctor for your problem. Once you have booked your preferred time slot with your preferred doctor, you will receive an email or text message confirming your online consultation along with the process to attend the online consultation. Your slot will be reserved for you- no other patient can attend at that time. That is why if you do choose online consultation, you must, just as in the case of a face- to-face- appointment, show up on time. The doctor will then hear out your symptoms, concerns, and problems and make notes as always. They will advise you on the best treatment for your ailment and prescribe any medicines you may need. You will be able to download your report and your prescription from the hospital’s website afterwards. If your disease or problem is more severe, it is likely that you will have to come in for a face-to-face appointment after your online consultation.

For a proper consultation though, you must, among other things, have a high speed broadband connection . In order to get the most out of a consultation, you must show up to your appointment on time, explain your symptoms to the doctor fully, and have a high speed broadband connection. You do not want your video or sound freezing while you are in the middle of explaining your condition to a doctor or hearing back what your diagnosis is and what medicines you should take. Such an experience would be a waste of time for both you and your doctor, who must have several other patients who require consultation.

If with your current broadband plans your video is not clear and your voice keeps getting cut off in phone calls or video consultations, then you should upgrade to a high speed broadband connection. A good broadband provider, such as Hathway Broadband, has varying plans depending on your internet needs. You can find out the internet speed that you need by calculating the number of devices in your household that need the internet and listing down all the things that you and the people in your household require the internet for. Activities such as gaming, streaming videos online, and taking online consultations will require a large amount of data and a high internet speed as well.

The importance of a fast internet speed cannot be underestimated in the new normal, especially when it comes to your health. It’s high time that you opt for online consultations instead of heading straight to a clinic or a hospital.