Remote Doctor Consultation

Consult a doctor remotely from your home, workplace or any other convenient location. There is no need to travel to the clinic, spend time on the journey or incur additional transport costs.

A remote doctor consultation, or telemedicine consultation, is a healthcare service in which a doctor assesses a patient’s health concern using a video call, information provided by the patient and medical records.

A remote appointment may be suitable for an initial consultation, a follow-up appointment, reviewing test results, assessing the effectiveness of treatment and planning further therapy.

At Med Art, you can book a remote consultation with any specialist whose appointment calendar offers the visit type “Remote appointment”.

The main condition is that the particular health concern can be assessed safely and to an appropriate standard without an in-person examination.

Why choose a remote doctor consultation?

A remote consultation lets you receive professional medical care while reducing the time and additional costs associated with visiting a clinic.

Main benefits:

• Time savings. You do not need to travel to the clinic or set aside extra time for the journey.
• Lower additional costs. There are no expenses for fuel, public transport or parking.
• A possibility of an earlier consultation. In some cases, an earlier time may be available for a remote appointment.
• Access regardless of where you live. You can attend from anywhere in Latvia with a suitable internet connection.
• Convenience for patients outside Latvia. In appropriate cases, patients abroad may also be able to consult a doctor, subject to the applicable healthcare requirements.
• Continuity of care. It is a convenient way to discuss treatment results, test results and any necessary changes to therapy.
• A wider choice of specialists. Your choice of doctor is not limited by the distance to the clinic.

The price of a remote consultation is the same as the price of an in-person consultation with the relevant specialist.

How do I book a remote doctor consultation?

Remote appointments at Med Art are booked in the usual way through the online booking system and require advance payment.

Booking process:

1. Choose a specialist. Select the doctor you would like to consult in the online booking system.
2. Select the appointment type. In the “Appointment type” field, choose “Remote appointment”.
3. Choose a date and time. Review the available consultation times and select the most suitable one.
4. Enter your contact details and the reason for your appointment. In the contact information section, you must complete the “Reason for appointment” field with a brief description of the health concern or question you wish to discuss.
5. Pay in advance. Pay for the consultation online to confirm your appointment.
6. Prepare for the consultation. If needed, send test results, photographs or other medical records in good time via the secure communication channel specified by the clinic.

There is no need to request a separate invoice, make a manual bank transfer or arrange payment with the clinic’s administration.

Important: a remote appointment can only be booked with specialists who offer this type of consultation.

Why must I state the reason for my appointment?

When booking a remote consultation, you must complete the “Reason for appointment” field in the contact information section.

Briefly describe your main symptoms, health concern or the questions you would like to discuss with the doctor.

This information enables the doctor to:

• review your health concern in advance and prepare for the consultation;
• assess whether the concern can be evaluated safely and appropriately remotely;
• determine whether additional information or medical records are needed before the appointment;
• use the consultation time as effectively as possible.

Not every health concern can be assessed remotely. If the doctor determines that a physical examination, specialist diagnostics or a medical procedure is required, an in-person appointment may be recommended.

How does a remote doctor consultation work?

A Med Art remote consultation is based on a video call between the patient and the doctor.

The video call allows the doctor to speak with the patient, ask follow-up questions and, where necessary, visually assess visible changes in the patient’s condition.

The consultation may use a clinic-approved video platform, such as Zoom, or an appropriate video-call feature in a messaging application. The method is agreed with the patient, taking account of technical options and medical confidentiality requirements.

What happens during the consultation:

1. Joining the video call. At the scheduled time, the patient and doctor connect through the agreed platform.
2. Patient identification. At the beginning of the appointment, the doctor verifies the patient’s identity.
3. Assessment of symptoms and medical information. The doctor discusses symptoms, medical history and previous treatment, and reviews the available records.
4. Visual assessment. If required and technically possible, the doctor assesses visible changes during the video call.
5. Recommendations and treatment plan. Based on medical indications, the doctor provides recommendations, establishes or adjusts a treatment plan, prescribes necessary medicines, or recommends further tests or an in-person appointment.

Patient identification

At the start of a remote appointment, the doctor must verify the patient’s identity to ensure that the consultation is being provided to the person who booked the healthcare service.

The doctor may ask the patient to provide the necessary personal details and, where required, show an identity document during the video call.

For a minor, the applicable legal requirements concerning representation and consent are also observed.

How should I prepare for a remote consultation?

To make the consultation as useful and effective as possible, prepare in advance any information the doctor may need to assess your health concern.

1. Prepare a description of your symptoms

Consider when the problem began, which symptoms you have noticed, whether they have changed over time and which treatments you have already used. Write down any questions you would like to ask.

2. Prepare your medical records

If available, prepare previous examination results, laboratory results, doctors’ reports and any other information related to the particular health concern.

3. Prepare photographs if needed

Good-quality photographs may help when the consultation concerns a visually assessable problem, such as changes to the skin, hair or nails.

Prepare both wider views and close-ups that show the changes clearly. Take photographs in good lighting and do not use filters or image editing.

4. Provide information about previous treatment

The doctor may need to know which medicines or treatments you have used, what the results were and whether you have any known allergies.

5. Send the necessary information in good time

There is no fixed deadline for sending medical records or photographs.

Med Art understands that health concerns can arise suddenly and that a consultation may be needed urgently. Nevertheless, important information should be sent as early as possible so the doctor can review it before the appointment.

If records are submitted shortly before the consultation, the doctor may not be able to review them fully in advance and part of the appointment may need to be used for this purpose.

Medical information and photographs must be sent through the secure communication channel specified by the clinic.

6. Ensure suitable conditions for the video call

Choose a quiet, private room where you can speak without interruption. Make sure that you have a stable internet connection, a working camera and microphone, and adequate lighting.

When is a remote doctor consultation suitable?

Remote consultations are suitable when the doctor can obtain enough information without physically examining the patient.

Common uses include:

Initial assessment of a health concern

A remote consultation may be suitable for an initial assessment of symptoms if an immediate physical examination or specific tests are not required.

Follow-up consultation

A remote appointment is particularly useful when the patient has already seen the doctor and changes in their condition or treatment results need to be reviewed.

Monitoring chronic conditions

For patients with chronic conditions, remote consultations can support continuity of care and allow changes in symptoms, treatment effectiveness and adjustments to the treatment plan to be discussed.

Reviewing test results

Laboratory, histology, radiology and other test results can be discussed remotely, including what they mean and what should happen next.

Reviewing medication therapy

The effectiveness and tolerability of medicines, possible side effects and any need to change treatment can be discussed remotely.

Dermatological and other visually assessable concerns

A remote consultation may be suitable for various skin, hair and nail concerns. Good-quality photographs and video can help the doctor assess symptoms and determine the next steps.

However, suspicious skin lesions, dermoscopy and other specific examinations require an in-person appointment.

Advice on further diagnosis and treatment

A remote appointment can also provide a professional medical assessment of the tests, treatment options or future healthcare plan that may be required.

Each patient’s situation is assessed individually. A remote consultation is appropriate only when the doctor can provide safe, high-quality medical care.

Can a diagnosis be made and treatment prescribed remotely?

Yes. In certain cases, a doctor can diagnose a condition and prescribe treatment during a remote consultation.

This depends on the particular health concern, the symptoms, the available medical information and the doctor’s professional assessment.

A remote consultation is not merely general advice. Within their professional competence, the doctor may:

• assess the patient’s symptoms and medical history;
• review medical records and test results;
• make a diagnosis when sufficient information is available;
• establish or adjust a treatment plan;
• order further tests;
• prescribe prescription medicines where appropriate;
• recommend another remote consultation or an in-person appointment.

If the concern cannot be assessed safely remotely, the doctor will recommend an in-person examination or further diagnostic tests.

When is an in-person doctor’s appointment required?

A remote consultation cannot fully replace in-person diagnostics and medical procedures. An in-person appointment may be necessary:

• when a physical examination, palpation or another in-person examination is required;
• when diagnostics using specialist medical equipment are needed;
• when samples, a biopsy or another invasive procedure are required;
• when a medical treatment or procedure must be performed;
• when the information obtained remotely is insufficient for a diagnosis;
• when the patient’s condition requires urgent in-person assessment.

A remote consultation is not an emergency medical service. If symptoms may threaten life or health, seek emergency medical assistance immediately by calling 113.

How much does a remote doctor consultation cost?

At Med Art, a remote consultation costs the same as an in-person consultation with the relevant specialist.

The price depends on the selected doctor and the applicable consultation terms. The exact price is shown during online booking before advance payment is made.

A remote consultation is not cheaper simply because it takes place by video. The doctor devotes professional consultation time to the appointment, reviews medical information and provides healthcare in accordance with medical indications. The patient can, however, save travel time and transport costs.

Is a remote doctor consultation a legally recognised healthcare service?

Yes. Telemedicine is provided for under Latvia’s Medical Treatment Law.

Telemedicine is the remote provision of healthcare services using information and communication technologies, including the secure transmission of medical data and information required for treatment.

Remote consultations must comply with requirements relating to quality of care, professional responsibility, patients’ rights, medical records and personal data protection.

The doctor has the right and professional duty to recommend an in-person consultation if a physical examination or further diagnostics are required. Patient health data are processed in accordance with the applicable data protection requirements.