Digital tools are beginning to become commonplace in general practice. More and more patients are using tools such as chat functions, video consultations and access to medical records. Yet not everyone is convinced of the added value of digital tools in healthcare. The latest e-health monitor by the RIVM even shows that thirty percent of patients disagree with the statement that digitization can advance healthcare. As a former general practitioner, I understand where this doubt comes from because the combination between technology and something as personal as care can feel contradictory. Still, I am convinced that digital tools can make the quality and experience of care more personal, and therefore better.

Personal connection with your GP

The personal relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider is a fundamental part of what both patients and GPs consider quality care. Research shows that 95 percent of Dutch people feel the need for a trusting relationship with their family doctor. Patient stories show that we like it when the GP approaches us not just as a patient, but above all as a human being, with an eye for our personal wishes and needs, so that together you can make a better decision about treatment. The vision of general practitioners corresponds with this. They too want to offer patient-oriented care, in which patients feel heard and seen. In addition, they want it to be efficient and effective and to promote care outcomes. Ultimately, GPs and patients determine together what constitutes good care. And so good care does not exist without personal attention.

Fear

That seems to be where the shoe pinches for many. Digital tools could disrupt that personal connection, many people fear. Will my GP still know me if part of my care is provided digitally? Does the GP still have insight into my living and home situation? Can he or she adequately assess what is going on if I present a complaint? Realistic questions, which as a former family physician I understand very well. Yet we should not equate digital care with impersonal care.

Quin brings patients and GPs together

At Quin, we are convinced that technology can play a positive role in connecting patients and GPs. Therefore, we have developed a platform where we bring together patients and GP. Here you have access to various digital tools that give patients easy access to medical advice, connect them with their GP and allow their care to be organized smarter. These tools complement the familiar care in the consulting room that patients are used to from their GP. They give patients and GPs new ways of making contact and organising their care. Of course, patients who wish to do so can always simply call the practice.

More time and attention for you thanks to digital solutions

Take the symptom checker. This tool quickly provides reliable insight into the possible causes of your health complaint, and advice on whether you should contact your GP and how urgent it is. By filling out the symptom checker and sharing the results before your appointment with the GP, the GP can better prepare for the consultation. This makes your conversation more valuable because the GP has more time and attention for you. This creates space for more in-depth questions.

Soon: quick advice from the specialist

At Quin, we are also working to make contact with the medical specialist easier. Is there a need for specialist advice? Then you and your family doctor will fill out a questionnaire about your symptoms. Together with the results of the physical examination and any additional research, this will be sent to the medical specialist after your consent. The specialist will then give you advice which you can discuss with your GP. In this way, as a patient you can receive advice from a medical specialist without having to go to the hospital.

Take charge of your own health

No one is more concerned about your health than you are. That's why it's so great when you have insight into the choices you can make with your doctor. That's what digital tools excel at. They give you the opportunity to participate as an equal partner in the conversation about your own health. And to determine, together with your GP, what good quality care means to you. It's up to you whether you want to make use of that.

Can technology help improve the quality of care? It certainly can! So my advice is to embrace that digital momentum. For accessible, quality and person-centered care. For your GP and for you.