by Dr. Lawrence E. Fremont
As an experienced hair transplant surgeon, I have been struck by recent changes in the way information is exchanged between prospective patients and their physicians. In the past, this necessarily took place in a face-to-face consultation; almost always in the doctor’s office. This was the only way to determine the extent of an individual’s hair loss, assess the density of their donor hair, discuss his or her expectations and present different design possibilities. Not any more.
Approximately a year ago, the introduction of video-conferencing made it possible to provide in-depth, one-on-one consultations without having to be in the same physical location. This phenomenon is called Tele-Medicine. I now offer it myself through an affiliation with a network of non-surgical hair replacement companies across Canada and the Northern United States. Here’s how it works. Participating associates dial our number on their videophone and I can be available at “the practice” almost instantly, talking with their client. Note, this is not a “virtual” consultation. The client and I actually see each other and talk to each other in real time.
I can look closely at anything I choose in order to make a professional diagnosis. Once all the medical questions have been satisfied through
direct visual observation of the patient’s hair-loss condition, I am able to give specific insights into what is available to him or to her. They can then proceed with confidence, knowing that they have consulted with a knowledgeable and experienced physician who had access to all the facts. Our own company, PHL Clinics, can be accessed by any affiliate who has a compatible videophone.
We market only to affiliates and their clientele. I expect this unique method of doctor/patient video- consulting to become a vital technology in the hair industry in the near future. There is no better way to bring specialist expertise to patients in remote locations or simply too busy to travel across town.
Dr. Lawrence E. Fremont is an internationally recognized hair transplant surgeon. He has trained doctors from all over the world in hair transplantation. In his 18 years experience in this field he has sought to use media technology to bring hair transplantation to the masses. This began in the late 80's with live radio and TV broadcasts of hair transplants.
He is presently pioneering inter-active CD-ROM's to help patients evaluate their hair loss and tele-video conferencing to allow him to personally interact with patients and prospective patients who are far away. He believes that the medical profession can benefit significantly from the application of these and other leading edge technologies.
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