HiDoc
A Seamless Telehealth Platform for Follow-Up Care

The growing use of smartphones, widespread Internet access, and the customer expectation of convenience continue to drive the adoption of telemedicine upward. In fact, the year 2020— predominated by COVID-19—pushed telemedicine to the forefront, making it a necessity. As never before, virtual care and remote monitoring took center stage to align with social distancing rules and minimize the chances of coronavirus transmission. During the pandemic, telehealth offered a bridge to care and now provides a chance to reinvent virtual and in-person care models to improve healthcare access, outcomes, and affordability.

Having realized the potential of telehealth long before the pandemic, Dr. Christina Low, a healthcare executive with over 15 of clinical experience, found HiDoc, a telehealth startup with a vision to deliver patient-centered, comprehensive healthcare by combining expert clinical knowledge with state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Low’s journey with telemedicine began when she came across a 2016 Accenture study that projected how extensively Singaporean patients embraced digital healthcare. She saw a huge opportunity to enhance the patient experience and enable healthcare providers’ access to a seamless platform for follow-up care in Singapore. Consequently, she created HiDoc, a namesake telehealth platform, in an effort to augment the quality of follow-up healthcare and second opinion consultation among patients.

HiDoc is backed by the Singapore Medical Group (SMG). With nearly 20 Singapore registered specialists on its platform, the company aims to deliver diagnosis within 24 hours or instantly through video conferencing to patients and give accredited specialists access to patient health records. “We want to provide greater value where, for example, a diabetic patient who has regular follow-ups with his or her endocrinologist can receive better and continuous management of care using our platform,” says Dr. Low, co-founder and CEO, HiDoc.

In essence, HiDoc is a robust platform that bridges the gap between patients and doctors, bringing all healthcare needs under one roof. Patients can utilize the solution to consult with a specialist virtually, receive medical prescriptions immediately, and follow up with or seek a second opinion from their specialists seamlessly.

Besides, patients’ data and medical records are compliant with the HIPAA and Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Taking things a notch higher, HiDoc extends medical concierge services for patients navigating the healthcare network in Singapore, including those who need to travel for medical help, involving referrals and appointments, and assistance with medical claims. More portantly, all of the medical specialists on HiDoc are egistered in the Singapore Medical Council.

We want to provide greater value where patients can receive better and continuous management of care using our platform

Patients seeking a second opinion from HiDoc’s current network of specialists can either reach out to a specialist directly or engage the care team before making a virtual consult appointment through the platform. Once they have confirmed their specialist, patients can upload test results, including imaging reports, onto the HiDoc platform. They will get a second medical opinion via real-time video feed within 24 hours.

More recently, noticing a rising trend of teleconsultations from the women’s community during the pandemic, Dr. Low wove together Nectar, a web-based application, to empower women of all ages to achieve optimal healthcare through self and preventative care as well as foster the development of a community that supports women’s health and wellness in the Asia Pacific region. Following an initial soft launch in January 2021, the Nectar app has already accumulated 3,000 registered users.

In the next two years, HiDoc intends to incorporate technologies like AI, integrate with labs for reports, a health wallet, and additional language support. The firm also aims to include general practitioners to its network and expand into other Southeast Asian markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam. There is no doubt that the team’s drive to encourage patients to reach out to medical providers whenever necessary, with the convenience and cost-effectiveness, is a noteworthy stride towards making healthcare a patient-first system.