It has been more than two years since COVID-19 appeared in our lives, changing our routines. And it is that, despite what it seemed at first, the confinement broke down barriers that had been normal until then and helped us to generate new habits or adapt existing ones. So much so that some of these customs are here to stay and we can no longer even imagine our daily lives without them. In this sense, at IVI we were forced to close our clinics for a time, but not to pause our activity indefinitely and totally. This is how we incorporate telemedicine into assisted reproduction, carrying out the first visit telematically.
Bringing the clinic closer to the patient and not the other way around
In addition to the changes introduced as a result of the health pandemic, the reality of our society is that we increasingly inhabit a more connected and globalized environment. For this reason, it would be difficult to understand the fact of not being able to bring services such as assisted reproduction closer to our patients. In this sense, at IVI we can say very loudly that we have adapted to this context, offering this facility to our patients. So much so that telemedicine is already the present of our organization and outlines its future. And it is that 20% of all our patients make the first visit online. If we take into account our international patients, who make their first consultation in this way, the percentage increases to 80%.
“The world of Assisted Reproduction is evolving more and more, and at IVI we bring our activity closer to the daily life of our patients, as long as they prefer it, instead of making them go to the clinic. Thanks to the tools and technology that we have today, many of the processes that are carried out in the clinic can be carried out remotely. In short, we see that telemedicine is the present and the future of Assisted Reproduction”explains Dr. Juan Antonio García-Velasco, Scientific Director of IVIRMA.
Telemedicine to adapt to the reality of our patients
Going back, in terms of pandemic and confinement, life -as we knew it- stopped. After the isolation, lighter measures arrived, but with which many of the borders continued to be totally or partially closed. At IVI we had to adapt to this reality, since many of our patients, given their prognosis, could not wait. The reality was, despite what it might seem, that at IVI we had been preparing for years to offer these facilities to our patients. The health restrictions only accelerated a process that we were already carrying out and through which we were able to provide an immediate response to our patients. The method? A virtual videoconferencing platform, thanks to which images can be shared in real time.
Get to know the IVI Patient Portal
In addition, at IVI we have our Patient Portal application, which is practically a mirror of everything related to the patient and the different phases she goes through during her treatment. In this space they obtain real-time information on their results, tests and follow-ups.
“The fact that patients can, through our patient application, have direct contact and accessible information in real time makes their journey much easier, more efficient and more comfortable. And ultimately this is what we seek. Of course our priority is to achieve a healthy baby in the shortest time, but also the possibility of making the process as bearable as possible. We know that the path of Assisted Reproduction can sometimes be complex, so the more we can make it easier for our patients and the more we perfect our processes and technology so that the patient experience is impeccable, the better”adds Dr. García Velasco.
The future: ultrasound controls at home
As we said at the beginning, telemedicine is present at IVI, but above all it will be future. That is why we are working on an ultrasound cycle control device, which is already in a clinical trial. It is a small device that will allow to know how the patient’s follicles evolve, by means of self-performing a vaginal ultrasound in her own home. Undoubtedly, a new step that brings the clinic closer to the patient –and not the other way around-, offering all the comforts in a process that is already complicated.
But how will this device work? Well, this is responsible for sending the corresponding data, which is stored in a virtual system. Through an Artificial Intelligence algorithm, the corresponding follow-up is carried out, since medical validation is always available.
The ultrasound controls of the cycle are already a reality and soon it will be possible to monitor the hormonal production in the cycle itself. This process can be evaluated in saliva, avoiding going to the clinic for blood extraction. A new advance, but which will continue to have information in real time, with direct contact with nurses, doctors, embryologists… The patient will be able to attend the evolution of their embryos, being a participant in each advance. Without a doubt, an advance that brings advantages that we can only enjoy thanks to telemedicine.
