Remote time-based appointments at Kallio Terveys – service description

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Kallio Terveys also offers time-based remote appointments in general medicine. Please note that examining the patient at the reception is often the key to good care. Telemedicine is not the best solution if the patient needs to be examined on-site. Below is a list of different topics for the services offered at remote appointments.

Remote appointments are billed based on how much time is spent on remote reception, recording, possible calls, and writing certificates. If, for example, the patient books a 20-minute remote appointment that is all spent investigating the matter and an extra 10 minutes is spent writing patient records, the patient will be billed for 30 minutes. The pricing plan for time-based remote appointments is here.

Kallio Terveys does not:

prescribe drugs that mainly act on the central nervous system or may be intoxicating
write doctor’s notes or medical certificates, which require either an examination of the patient or extensive familiarity with the patient’s previous medical records (e.g., driving license certificates or statements about the suitability for conscript service)
treat hypothyroidism with other drugs than laevothyroxine products with marketing authorisation
prescribe sex hormones, DHEA, or low-dose naltrexone
provide treatment for mental disorders or addiction disorders

What issues are suitable for remote appointments?

Cancers, other malignant diseases, haematological (blood) diseases, and suspected tumors

Illnesses belonging to this group are not treated in Kallio Terveys.

Cardiovascular diseases

Kallio Terveys remote appointment is suitable for:
* yearly check-up of hypertension, if there is no known heart disease, valvular defect, and hypertension has been under control at the previous appointment; if there is new chest pain, shortness of breath, or instances with a loss of consciousness, the matter is not suitable for a remote appointment, but one needs an urgent in-person appointment

The treatment and diagnosis of this group of diseases require examination of the patient in person, and they are not always suitable for appointment in Kallio Terveys.

Dermatology

The evaluation of small skin lesions may be successful in some situations if accurate pictures are obtained from a close distance. In addition, the renewal of prescriptions for drugs used for the regular treatment of certain skin diseases, mainly for external use, may be considered.

Mole-like, blistering, purulent, or extensive skin changes are better examined in person at a doctor’s office.

Doctor’s notes and medical certificates

Kallio Terveyden kautta voit saada salmonellatodistuksen.
Kallio Terveys provide salmonella certificates.

Kallio Terveys does not provide doctor’s notes or medical certificates, which require either an examination of the patient or extensive familiarity with the patient’s previous medical records (e.g., driving license certificates or statements about the suitability for conscript service).

Ear, nose and throat diseases and pulmonology

The disease group requires examining the patient, and a remote appointment is rarely enough.

Exceptions:
* you want a prescription for allergy medication or mild sinusitis (antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays, allergy eye drops)

Endocrinological and metabolic diseases and overweight

These are suitable for Kallio Terveys remote appointments:
* if you are overweight and want to take laboratory tests to check for associated diseases
* if you are at increased risk for diabetes or high cholesterol and would like a doctor’s assessment for your laboratory tests
* if you have elevated cholesterol, and you possibly are on for it, and you want to check your cholesterol level

Examining the patient is often essential in investigating endocrinological and metabolic diseases, in which case a remote appointment may not be suitable for the assessment.

In Kallio Terveys, hypothyroidism is not treated with other drugs than laevothyroxine products with marketing authorisation. Kallio Terveys does not prescribe sex hormones, DHEA, or low-dose naltrexone.

Gastroenterological diseases

Typically assessing digestive tract symptoms requires an examination of the patient, and a remote appointment alone is not enough.

At remote appointment, it is possible:
* prescribe medical treatment for short-term constipation, where the stool is hard, but it comes without signs of an obstruction
* prescribe medication for short-term diarrhoea without blood in the stool, abdominal pain, or fever; prolonged diarrhoea requires investigations and examination of the patient
* assess and treat short-term dyspepsia (”heartburn”) when there are no red-flag symptoms (weight loss, fever, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, simultaneous chest pain or shortness of breath, new symptom in person over 55)

Genitourinary diseases

Most of these diseases require the examination of the patient in person, in which case the remote appointment does not suffice. An appropriate assessment of the symptoms related to the prostate requires the examination of the patient in addition to a PSA test and symptom assessment; thus, the prostate problems are not treated in Kallio Terveys remote appointments.

Infectious diseases (incl. STIs), parasitic diseases, etc.

Kallio Terveys remote appointment is for:
* PrEP assesments
* vaccine needs assessment
* referral for STI tests of an asymptomatic person and assessing the results
* compiling a salmonella certificate
* lower urinary tract infection of an 18–65-year-old, non-pregnant woman in good general condition who doesn’t have fever, problems passing urine, or other red-flag symptoms or risk factors
* when a skin change has appeared at the site of the tick bite indicating erythema migrans (the skin change of early stage Lyme disease; DermNet⇗, PCDS⇗)

Remote appointments are often not suited for investigating infections, as a proper examination of the patient is not possible.

Kallio Terveys does not do antibody diagnostics for infectious diseases other than applicable STIs. Kallio Terveys does not provide e.g., antibody tests for Lyme disease. Apart from erythema migrans, Kallio Terveys doesn’t treat other forms of Lyme disease.

Injuries and poisonings

These instances are not for remote appointments. If you don’t know what to do, contact your area’s health advice number or the General medical helpline (116 117). In an emergency, call the emergency number (112) or, in case of suspected poisoning, the Poison Information Centre (0800 147 111).

LGBTIQ

Kallio Terveys strives to provide non-discriminatory health services, regardless of the patient’s sexual orientation and gender identity.

At Kallio Terveys, you may, for example:
* assess whether PrEP might be a good solution for you
* get a referral for gender identity clinic according to the referral criteria (Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa HUS⇗ or Tampere University Hospital Tays [in Finnish]⇗)

You may also book an appointment to discuss issues related to your health, e.g., for consultation.

Mental disorders, cognitive disorders, and substance use disorders

Kallio Terveys does not treat mental, cognitive, or substance use disorders.

Musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatic diseases, connective tissue diseases, and vasculitides

Examining these diseases and evaluating treatment cannot primarily be done remotely.

In certain situations, e.g., when renewing prescriptions for first-line symptomatic pain medication of diagnosed osteoarthritis, a remote appointment may be applicable. However, Kallio Terveys does not prescribe drugs that mainly act on the central nervous system, such as opioid-based painkillers. NSAIDs are not suitable, e.g., in heart diseases or kidney failure.

Neurological disorders

Examination and treatment of neurological diseases are typically not fit for remote appointments.

Exceptions:
* renewal of prescriptions of first-line drugs for diagnosed migraine (e.g., NSAIDs, triptans, some preventive medications), if they are not drugs that mainly act on the central nervous system
* renewal of the preventive medication for restless legs syndrome (mainly pramipexole), if they are not drugs that mainly act on the central nervous system

Ophthalmological disorders

Examining and treating eye disorders almost always requires examination of the patient, so they are for remote appointments.

Referrals

Often, referrals require examining the patient.

In some situations, it is possible to make a referral to, e.g., specialised health care from Kallio Terveys. For example, a referral may be compiled for gender identity clinic according to the referral criteria (Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa HUS⇗ or Tampere University Hospital Tays [in Finnish]⇗).

Symptoms (assessing)

Sometimes remote appointment does not suit assessing symptoms, as examining comprehensivelythe patient is not possible. In some cases, based on the remote appointment, certain examinations (e.g. laboratory tests) may be ordered. If the symptoms persist, the patient has to apply for an in-person doctor’s appointment.

Travellers

From Kallio terveys, you may:
* get a vaccine needs assessment for your trip
* get an assessment for PrEP for your trip