PRESS RELEASE: Queensland doctors set up an online hospital, just in time for a pandemic
DOCTO – Australia’s online hospital – today hailed the 100 medical specialist doctors that have been active on its platform during the COVID pandemic.
Over the past 12 months, DOCTO Founder, Dr Jon Field, saw demand for DOCTO’s services increase substantially. DOCTO was founded in 2015, was well established before the pandemic hit, with 20,000 registered patients, and dozens of doctors from 25 medical specialties.
Noting the uncertainty that lockdowns and extreme weather events created in people’s lives, Dr Field said “thanks to the work of 100 doctors on the DOCTO platform, we have succeeded in helping people keep their heath on track. Providing easy access to specialist healthcare for all Australians is our mission”.
DOCTO uses a custom built, secure, encrypted platform, to give patients rapid access to a medical specialist. Non-urgent consultations take place within 7 working days, an urgent cases are seen instantly in the virtual emergency department. Referrals are reviewed by DOCTO’s specialist team to ensure every patient is connected to the right doctor, based on expertise, geography and availability. The DOCTO team supports referring GPs and patients throughout the process, and carefully coordinates records, e-prescriptions and follow up. DOCTO’s Virtual Emergency Department can provide instant advice when a GP is not available.
“Telehealth has some real advantages, but the next evolution – definitive tele-healthcare – offers more than convenience. DOCTO is overcoming some of the main reasons people delay their healthcare, by saving patients from unnecessary travel and time off work and getting the prompt specialist advice that can contribute to positive health outcomes, without long wait times.” he added.
Having already operated this platform successfully for Australians travelling overseas, DOCTO has been expanding its services to rural and regional Queenslanders with an IGNITE Ideas from the Queensland government. Consults can occur securely from any location, on any internet connected device, without downloading of software or plug-ins.
For more information, visit www.docto.com.au
‘Docto’ is Australia’s first online telemedicine hospital; run by doctors, for patients.
Docto’s Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day. It is staffed by fully trained Australian Emergency Physicians who you can talk to via video, phone or email.
Docto also hosts over 100 leading medical specialists providing telemedicine consultations to Australians at home and abroad. We are focussed on delivering excellence in healthcare to Rural Australia and have recently been awarded the Queensland Governments Advance Fund to provide rural patients with accelerated access to a large network of medical specialists via video consultation.
