Centro Médico Alfaz chooses Webcamconsult's e-health platform (interview)

Centro Médico Alfaz chooses Webcamconsult's e-health platform (interview)

Health centre on Costa Blanca invests in online care

The health centre Centro Médico Alfaz has decided, after a trial period, to definitively increase its commitment to online care within the clinic. 
The healthcare organisation indicates that, with the help of Webcamconsult, it intends to expand the use of e-health in the coming years in order to better facilitate patients.

The clinic in Alicante is the first healthcare organisation in Spain to cooperate with the Dutch company Webcamconsult, which has been supporting healthcare organisations internationally for some time. Currently, intake interviews are mainly done via online consultations, but Centro Médico Alfaz is also going to start monitoring appointments and let patients schedule appointments themselves via Webcamconsult.

Implementation of digital care goes step by step

Dylan van Zomeren of Centro Médico Alfaz has been involved in the implementation of the online care platform: "We have tried to implement digital care before, but it did not take off then. This time we applied more focus during the initial phase and transferred all the knowledge internally, and it's going fine. Everyone had to get used to it, but now we and our patients are starting to reap the benefits. We perform minor surgical treatments and are now, for example, optimising the anamnesis form within Webcamconsult. We don't want to overload patients. We also aim for our patients to be able to book appointments themselves through the system. But we are doing it step by step, so that our staff and the patients can get used to it."

Medical tourism in Costa Blanca has grown significantly in recent years. The region attracts international patients (including from the Netherlands) because of the high quality and affordability of medical services, including cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and orthopaedic treatments. Many clinics in cities such as Alicante and Benidorm offer specialised care with modern facilities. The mild climate and beautiful coastline make recovery pleasant, while well-organised travel and accommodation options facilitate the process. Moreover, tourists can often expect shorter waiting times and personalised care, adding to the attractiveness of medical tourism in Costa Blanca.

Proud of cooperation

Doctor Refaat Karim, who works at the clinic, says Centro Médico Alfaz is proud of the move towards offering online care. It is the first healthcare organisation in Spain to work with Webcamconsult. The doctor notes that many organisations get cold feet: "Online consultations should become commonplace within our clinic, that is our wish. All digital consultations via Webcamconsult went well. What is also very important to us is the security of the platform. We have to deal with privacy-sensitive information, and at Webcamconsult this is well regulated, partly because they are NEN 7510 and ISO 27001 certified."

Employees had to cross threshold

It took a long time for the Alicante-based healthcare organisation to make the decision to use Webcamconsult's online healthcare platform. Dr Karim says: "Our employees who had to start working with it were generally older, and we noticed that they had an obstacle. The same applied to me. But because I work both in the Netherlands and Spain, it was convenient to do the intake interviews online, for example. Dylan helped us with the initial discussions with patients and how it works, and now we are working with it to our full satisfaction. Needless to say, this is also a very nice solution for our patients."

Support from Webcamconsult is perceived as very pleasant

Dylan van Zomeren says that almost all conversations between doctors and patients have gone well so far: "It actually always works and we haven't had a single problem with the connection. We also really like the support from Webcamconsult. Calling or emailing is always possible and they respond very quickly. They look with me and then suggest a solution or give an explanation. We also like the fact that they have a lot of video material in the form of tutorials online on YouTube. There you can easily see how things work and sometimes it is also nice to refresh the memory."

International nature of Centro Médico Alfaz

The clinic on the Costa Blanca helps patients from all over the world, including many Dutch. Professionals of different nationalities also work within the healthcare organisation.

Dylan van Zomeren identifies a difference in the use of e-health solutions between generations of doctors and expects significant developments in the field of AI: "I notice that older doctors in particular almost always opt for a physical consultation, while the younger generation also likes to help patients with an e-consult. The next step that will soon take shape is the use of artificial intelligence. For example, for requesting simple prescriptions, but also to provide some level of support 24/7. It will also make it easier for us doctors to look up information quickly. Healthcare has to develop along with the market, otherwise we will miss opportunities for better and more efficient care. Of course, there will always be situations that cannot be solved online, in which case our door is always open." 

Centro Médico Alfaz is actively involved in Foundation FGM. For years, it has been working to make the possibility of restorative surgery discussed in the Netherlands and Europe. Female circumcision is a cultural phenomenon that cuts across different religions, cultures and countries. It is often seen as a way of controlling female sexuality, stemming from the fear that women without control over their sexual desires cannot control themselves. Doctors in the foundation support these women's right to self-determination. Webcam consultation is used as a communication tool in this regard.

FGM Foundation calls on to donate to give these women a chance to live a full life.