TOP 10 QUESTIONS WE HEAR FROM PATIENTS
What do I need to bring for an appointment ?
You do not have to bring anything with you. If you want to share some information with your doctors and you want to show them some medical documents, you can bring every document you want. The more information you can give to your doctor, the better and more efficient your consultation will be. If the doctor needs to see a specific document (i.e. medical report, X-ray) he will ask you when you schedule the appointment.
Can I choose the doctor I want for my consultation ?
The doctor you will see is selected according to your health problem. All of our doctors and specialists are fully qualified and very qualified. If you already had an appointment with a doctor and you would like to see him again for your consultation, you can specify it in the appointment form or by phone when you schedule your appointment.
Does my insurance pay for each consultation ?
It depends on your insurance policy. However, most cases, it is fully covered by the insurance. At Directcare, we normally charge 30% more than clinics this is due to time being spent for doctors on transportation.
How to find Chat History (From versions before Release 3.2)
Due to the rewrite of chat history features in Directcare version 3.2 (released March 8th 2016), the ability to load chat history in a separate window was removed. Instead, Chat now auto-loads as you scroll up further, and in the future could possibly be securely stored on the server for easy access between different devices logged in as the same user.However, previous chat logs are still present on the hard drive, and where required, can be easily accessed manually.
If you are unable to find your old chat history, please contact us at support@directcare.com for assistance.
Why should I use Directcare?
Directcare is designed to provide easy access to second opinion services, helping you, or your loved one, with the following:
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Obtain answers to important health questions that your current specialist is unable to address.
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Access other global leading specialists with expertise in a specific area.
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Obtain valuable peace of mind, knowing you are on the right course for your medical condition.
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Reassurance that the procedure, treatment or surgery recommended will provide the desired medical outcome.
When facing major medical decisions, it is vital to obtain a second opinion and consultation service. Accurate diagnosis and treatment plans increase the recovery rate and avoid unnecessary medical treatments and procedures that could be costly. Doctors suggest getting a second opinion before non-emergency surgeries, long-term treatments, and major operations for this very reason. If you are unsure, or just want to confirm your current course of treatment, a second opinion can give you the confidence and knowledge about your treatment that you deserve.
Is getting a second opinion a common practice?
As a matter of fact, most treating physicians welcome a second opinion from other respected experts in their specialty. They also gain access to information regarding innovative diagnostic and treatment regimens that might not be available in their local communities.
Who will see my data?
Your data is accessible only by theYourDoctors.Online registered doctor and/or specialist who you have carefully chosen to assign the case, as well as the case facilitator at YourDoctors.Online only. When it comes to handling patients’ medical information, YourDoctors.Online has always adhered to the highest standard of privacy. Today, we continue that strict practice when communicating with patients via our website. We ensure your medical case will be secured under strict privacy on the web through the following ways:
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Registering and setting up your secure online account through our website.
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Establishing your secure account ensures a secure connection between you and YourDoctors.Online.
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Encrypting (scrambling) your information via Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption keys ensures your privacy as well.
Your computer securely and privately transfers your information to YourDoctors.Online, however, you must use a browser capable of 128-bit encryption, such as Google Chrome, Firefox (our two preferred search engines), as well as Safari or Internet Explorer 10. If our system detects that your browser does not meet this specification, we will notify you
Is my data protected?
Yes, we meet or exceed all federal requirements for protecting personal health information (PHI) of patients under the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). We do this using technology and smart business practices. The technology we employ encrypts and stores all PHI securely while still allowing for the physician to access critical information easily and quickly. Our business practice is to only collect the information we need at the time we need it.
Is video or audio chat included in the consultation?
It is not an essential service or part of the consultation; however, it is at the sole discretion of the specialist to choose to include video or audio as part of the consultation. Proper application is required on both patient and specialist (eg., chrome, firefox) for this application to work. Hence we do not provide any guarantees that the application will work seamlessly. Specialists are able to see if the patient is online (ie., on portal) and could decide to allow a video conference BUT this service is not included in the service charges. It is on sole discretion of the specialist.
Why do some Directcare specialists charge more than others?
Each specialist on Directcare sets their own consulting price. These prices usually reflect their level of expertise, demand for their services and whether they are available for a video / audio chat. It is our desire that we offer the best available specialist for the most competitive price point as we provide
1. Hassle free & simple online consultation to patient hence no admin staff required
2. Malpractice coverage for consulting provided on this portal provided by YourDoctors.Online
3. And have invested heavily to automate the patient doctor interaction model (hence no hospital administrative fee)