Tech company offering free virtual doctor visits

REGINA When a Saskatchewan resident has a virtual appointment with a doctor through the Lumeca app, it’ll come at no charge.

The service functions like a virtual walk-in clinic, connecting users with doctors in Saskatchewan over video chat.

Thanks to the Saskatchewan government introducing virtual billing codes on March 13, Lumeca is now able to bill the government through the Medical Services Branch. It’s a virtual replication of how doctors currently bill the government when seeing patients in person.

Previously, Lumeca had charged its users a subscription fee.

Since opening the service up to all Saskatchewan residents with a valid health card, Lumeca has seen thousands of new users. Tyson Liske, Lumeca’s vice-president of marketing and communications, said it’s a viable option not only for someone who suspects they have COVID -19 symptoms, but for people with compromised immune systems looking to limit their exposure to others.

“To be able to connect people virtually to doctors from the safety and comfort of their home has never been more apparent of a need than now,” said Liske.

Founded in 2016 and based in Regina, Lumeca is a privately owned startup. Its development staff includes founding members of the successful local tech company Gasbuddy.

The government’s move to support virtual billing comes at a crucial time for provincial health care. The concept of virtual doctor-patient consultation could prove vital in an age of social distancing and self-quarantine.

“This kind of access also provides a safer work environment for doctors and their staff during this pandemic. We need a healthy physician workforce to tackle the challenges presented by the outbreak of COVID -19,” said Saskatchewan Medical Association president Dr. Allan Woo in a news release.

When asked if Lumeca could be seen as an alternative to Healthline, which has been under immense pressure and experienced service disruptions, Liske said he sees the company as a service that complements what Healthline provides.

“We offer a great solution for those who may not be able to get through to Healthline,” said Liske.

All of Lumeca’s data is hosted in Canada through Amazon Web Services. The company also has privacy and security officers on staff. Liske said the company “exceeds” all standards when it comes to patient privacy.

Lumeca currently has 20 doctors that work either part time or full time. Liske said it can also be a good option for doctors who are self-isolating, but are well enough to continue working from home. He assured that Lumeca is not interested in taking doctors away from the front lines.

Lumeca does not currently offer a way for users to connect with their family doctors, but Liske said that’s something the company is working on.

Changing to a free model for Saskatchewan residents has been a big shift, and it’s unknown how that will effect Lumeca. Liske said there will be time to sort that out later, given the extreme circumstances in the world.