The move aims to safeguard patients trying to conceive 

Dubai, UAE, 26th March 2020: In the wake of the ongoing Corona crisis, Fertility centers and specialists in the UAE have started offering patients telephonic consultations to help combat the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing. 

“Considering the current situation, we deem it vital to keep patients safe and secure by controlling the number of visits to the clinic. These are extraordinary times and call for extraoridinary measures. As a responsible IVF facility, we understand how important it is to act immediately, and hence have taken a step to offer telephonic consultations to our patients to contain the spread of the virus,” said Prof. Dr Human Fatemi, Medical Director of IVI Middle East Fertility Clinics.' 

The decision by the clinic is consistent with other steps being taken within the health care system to ensure an ability for all to focus on the COVID-19 response. While most patients are encouraged to have telephonic conversations with their specialist, patients who need to see their doctor in person, will still be able to do so.
'We want patients to be convinced that utmost care is being taken towards their safety. There are several stages of a patient connect with IVI. Earlier each of our facilities used to see 10-12 patients per day who were evaluating IVF for conception. This we term as new patient consultations. The use of technology has been made to ensure that while these consultations carry on, couples can actually get the same via a phone call with the IVF specialist at IVI. This has actually minimised the footfalls and hence enabled us to safely implement social distancing,” added Dr Laura Melado, IVF Specialist, IVI Fertility Abu Dhabi.  

Even the existing patients are being allowed to enter the premises if the need arises only. Most follow ups are happening over phone calls with the treating doctors. 

A well-defined process across three stages has been developed to smoothly carry out the tele-consults and we are carrying out consultations in double digit numbers daily across clinics. “Patients have welcomed the idea and are very open to availing this service”, added a counsellor at IVI Fertility.

Virtual consultations have always been a critical part of medical science, and considering the situation today, it is important to provide continuity of care through such advanced technologies.