- 90% of Top Doctors users claim to have found the most suitable expert on the platform and, moreover, in 84% of the cases they got a correct diagnosis the first time around.
- Uncertainty during the waiting time for a diagnosis generates anxiety in the patient which, together with the symptoms, can make it difficult for the specialist to detect the pathology.
- The growing medical hyperspecialization means that the patient does not know exactly which is the best doctor for each case.
Barcelona, March 20, 2019 – Three consultations. That is the average number of visits to specialists that a large majority of people have to make until they find the right diagnosis and treatment for their pathology, specifically for 50% of patients. This is highlighted by data from a user analysis and a survey of doctors carried out by Top Doctors, an online platform for finding and contacting the best medical specialists in private healthcare, audited and certified by the most rigorous doctor selection process in the world.
According to the medical specialists, patients who visit them after having previously seen other doctors usually arrive with their pathology already advanced and either have been undergoing unnecessary tests or come from the public health system after having suffered bureaucratic problems and delays in appointments. There are several factors that contribute to this walk between consultations. Firstly, the growing medical hyperspecialization means that the patient does not know exactly which is the best doctor for each case. “Specialization has led to excellent healthcare, but at the same time to a very great segmentation, and the specialist is a specialist for a very specific area,” says Dr. Julio del Castillo, Coloproctologist and member of Top Doctors.
But, in addition, the experience, professionalism and competence of the physician himself also come into play, which is very diverse in each case. “Experience is a degree that increases the chances of getting it right quickly. Also, in our profession there are scientific advances almost every day, so it is important to keep up to date,” say the specialists at the Strachan Center, members of Top Doctors. Lastly, the patient’s lack of knowledge and ability to explain his or her own symptomatology, sometimes giving an incorrect description, is a common occurrence in the consultation room. “In addition, in many cases, it is the patients themselves who choose the specialist without receiving prior advice from primary care,” says Dr. Angélica Urda, Family Physician and member of Top Doctors.
The emotional cost of the patient’s trip increases
All this makes the patient’s journey longer in time and their pathology becomes more complicated until they land in the right place, with an emotional cost, added as one more symptom, which can have repercussions on health care. “The intensity of anxiety is relatively proportional to how long the diagnostic process takes and treatment is put in place. This uncertainty causes a symptomatology that is added to that of the disease itself and leads to very severe psychological suffering,” assures Dr. Del Castillo. “People find it difficult to go to the doctor, and this fact is aggravated if the patient has to go to several specialists, since confidence and faith in recovery can be lost, which causes emotional exhaustion that can even lead to depression,” adds psychologist María Padilla.
Technology to improve patient access, the keys to finding the right specialist
To improve patient access to the best medicine and high-level treatments, technology has established itself as an essential channel in the healthcare sector. According to Top Doctors’ internal data, 9 out of 10 users of the platform find the right expert and in 84% of the cases, moreover, they obtained an accurate diagnosis without the need for second opinions. “It is important for the patient to have insight into which are the best professionals in our healthcare, and to have access to digital services that facilitate their journey to finding the treatment.” And to that end, the challenge lies in energizing the digital transformation of the sector.
Patients have increasing access to information, as well as greater control over their own health. “But studies also show that an empowered patient generates lower costs,” say Top Doctors. On the other hand, the technological evolution of the health sector leads to improved access, efficiency and quality of processes, leads to the design and development of solutions that help specialists to make better decisions, and to offer more accurate, precise and personalized diagnoses and treatments.