Ethical aspects of a telemedicine service in a mutual insurance company

Abstract

MC Mutual is a mutual insurance company that started a telemedicine (TM) project in 2021 with the purpose of creating a more sustainable and efficient assistential model. Objective: To review the ethical aspects and strengths of the project. Methods: Review of the existing documentation in MC Mutual related to TM, interviews with the project director and with two professionals of the TM team, academic sessions and simulation training in the use of the TM tool. Results: It is a project that, since its implementation, has contemplated essential ethical aspects: physician-patient relationship based on a personal examination and a sufficient knowledge of the patient’s clinical record, mutual trust and respect; preparation of specific informed consents, professional autonomy to decide the most appropriate type of consultation; provision of telecommunication systems with the necessary requirements; evaluation measures to preserve quality of attention, patient safety, the best possible diagnosis and treatment practices. Conclusions: The TM project represents an opportunity of improvement in the attention of patients located at assistential healthcare centers, making highly qualified personnel available to patients and health professionals who require it, keeping optimal conditions in patient safety and quality of attention.  Additionally, it facilitates collaborative work between health workers from healthcare centers and reference centers.