The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has announced that all non-essential services will only be conducted through virtual consultations using both telephone and video.
“Given the current rise in Covid-19 cases, the changes have been put into effect as a precautionary measure to keep the community safe, by minimising exposure for both patients and healthcare workers as we have a high volume of vaccination groups visiting the health centres. To limit the number of patients visiting health centers, PHCC teams will call patients to reschedule any existing appointments of non-essential services by converting them to virtual consultations,” said Dr Samya Ahmad al-Abdulla, executive director of operations, of PHCC.
PHCC health centres will continue to receive all walk-in and urgent care patients including family medicine, dental and specialty services, as assessed by a physician. Essential services will still be provided, but at a limited capacity, and it is advised not to visit the health centres unless urgent care is required.
Face-to-face consultations are now only available for the following services: Urgent-care patients, walk-in patients, all suspected Covid-19 and close contact cases (walk-in or referred), well baby and vaccinations, antenatal (but only on referral after a virtual consultation by a physician), essential X-ray and ultrasound scan (USS) urgent cases only, Covid-19 vaccinations, drive-thru Covid-19 swabbing, day 6 swab (either reactive or post travel), home health care, pre-marital services on request, medical commission and school registration .
PHCC successfully launched virtual consultations during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 by using the latest community call centre technology. “The virtual consultations proved to be an invaluable service for patients during the pandemic, reducing the need for face-to-face visits, yet still providing the individual attention, with a personal touch. It has proved to be an advanced and clinically sustainable model, changing the way PHCC delivers patient care,” added Dr al- Abdulla
Patients can access urgent medical consultations with a physician via telephone or video conference by calling 16000, selecting the PHCC option, followed by choosing option two. If the physician then determines that a patient is in need of a physical examination, the patient is then referred to PHCC’s walk-in service at the nearest health centre or Hamad Medical Corporation, as appropriate.
PHCC urgent care services are available at eight health centers 24 hours a day. They are Muaither, Rawdat Al Khail, Al Gharafa, Al Kaaban, Al Shahaniyah, Al Ruwais, Umm Slal and Abu Baker Al Siddiq health centres.
PHCC health centres will continue to receive all walk-in and urgent care patients including family medicine, dental and specialty services, as assessed by a physician. Essential services will still be provided, but at a limited capacity, and it is advised not to visit the health centres unless urgent care is required.
Face-to-face consultations are now only available for the following services: Urgent-care patients, walk-in patients, all suspected Covid-19 and close contact cases (walk-in or referred), well baby and vaccinations, antenatal (but only on referral after a virtual consultation by a physician), essential X-ray and ultrasound scan (USS) urgent cases only, Covid-19 vaccinations, drive-thru Covid-19 swabbing, day 6 swab (either reactive or post travel), home health care, pre-marital services on request, medical commission and school registration .
PHCC successfully launched virtual consultations during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 by using the latest community call centre technology. “The virtual consultations proved to be an invaluable service for patients during the pandemic, reducing the need for face-to-face visits, yet still providing the individual attention, with a personal touch. It has proved to be an advanced and clinically sustainable model, changing the way PHCC delivers patient care,” added Dr al- Abdulla
Patients can access urgent medical consultations with a physician via telephone or video conference by calling 16000, selecting the PHCC option, followed by choosing option two. If the physician then determines that a patient is in need of a physical examination, the patient is then referred to PHCC’s walk-in service at the nearest health centre or Hamad Medical Corporation, as appropriate.
PHCC urgent care services are available at eight health centers 24 hours a day. They are Muaither, Rawdat Al Khail, Al Gharafa, Al Kaaban, Al Shahaniyah, Al Ruwais, Umm Slal and Abu Baker Al Siddiq health centres.