What if you could walk into a place, press a button, and be treated by a doctor without a prior appointment, all in an easily accessible location? This possibility of transforming access to healthcare with such proximity exists since November 20th at Plaza Las Américas.
MiConsulta MD is a space that combines technology and medical care, allowing the doctor to measure the patient’s weight, blood pressure, examine their heartbeat, eyes, and even skin with medical devices. The patient walks in, presses a button, and the doctor appears on a large screen “on demand”. After confirming the patient’s insurance and data with Triple-S Salud, the consultation begins privately. The doctor evaluates the patient, asks about their symptoms, and may leave with a prescription or a lab order or other studies, if necessary.
“We’re talking about a new generation of healthcare with MiConsulta MD because we combine immediate access, when needed, thanks to technology, and that personal touch of an in-person doctor’s consultation”, said Dr. Waldemar Ríos, Chief Medical Officer of Triple-S Salud.
He explained that this innovation is part of a broader solution within the access ecosystem that Triple-S offers to its insured members. “We continue to worry about getting access to doctors when our insured members need them; the shortage of doctors has made it difficult to get appointments quickly, and when they’re not available, the health condition can worsen. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to have a robust network of providers, multiservice care clinics like SALUS, urgent care centers, and telemedicine services like TeleConsulta MD and now MiConsulta MD.”
Dr. Ríos clarified that every person should have a primary care physician. If it’s a child, their primary care physician is a pediatrician; if it’s an adult, it can be an internist, family doctor, or primary care physician. The primary care physician covers the patient’s overall care and helps prevent health complications. However, when access to appointments is difficult, Triple-S provides alternatives for its insured members, such as SALUS, MiConsulta MD, TeleConsulta MD, and urgent care clinics, to achieve quick attention when needed.
Another benefit is that MiConsulta MD, due to its operational flexibility and ability to be located in high-traffic areas, is available seven days a week, extended hours, following the schedule of location. This alternative expands the access options that Triple-S offers to its insured members, along with multi-service care clinics like SALUS, which also contribute to improving service availability. The doctors who serve MiConsulta MD are licensed physicians in Puerto Rico who have been trained to provide care through this technology, without neglecting human touch.
Easy to Use and Secure
The patient only needs an ID card and their Triple-S Salud plan card. The service will be available to Triple-S health plan insured members.
Once you arrive at MiConsulta MD, if the space is available, you enter, press the “Start” button, and the door closes to provide privacy and security. The glass becomes opaque so that it can’t be seen from the outside.
MiConsulta MD can accommodate one person in a wheelchair with a companion or a parent with their child. It can treat children from two years old to adults.
During the consultation, the patient is guided on what to do and how to use diagnostic devices to facilitate the consultation. Once the visit is complete and the patient leaves, MiConsulta MD automatically disinfects itself with a UV-C light cycle that kills 99.9% of germs and viruses in the air and on surfaces. This process takes a few minutes before being ready for the next consultation.
“Really, it’s a new generation of care with a doctor closer to you,” said Michael Muchnicki, President of Triple-S Salud. He added that it’s part of Triple-S’ mission to enable healthy lives. He anticipated that for next year, they project expanding MiConsulta MD to various locations around Puerto Rico.
The first MiConsulta MD is located on the first floor of Plaza Las Americas, in front of JCPenney.