What makes the Felix approach to telemedicine so unique?
You know those days you barely feel like getting out of bed, let alone having an intimate conversation with a near stranger? Or when you’re jam-packed with tons of work that the concept of carving out time in the middle of the day to get to your doctor’s office, waiting to see the doctor and then returning to work seems completely impossible? Or what if you don’t have a primary care provider and have to hope for the best with a random doctor at a walk-in clinic? That’s where the Felix telemedicine healthcare platform comes in!
Telemedicine is not a new concept in Canada. It basically means that one can receive care remotely through electronic and telecommunication technologies. These paid services can be through video conferencing or digital messaging, but it all has to happen in real time. With Felix, you receive care asynchronously, meaning you and a doctor don’t need to be in the same place at the same time. In Canada, there are currently no asynchronous healthcare options available, except for Felix. Our model provides you the freedom to reach out whenever is convenient for you — whether it’s on the streetcar, lying in bed at 2 a.m. or during a quick lunch break. Although 24/7 telemedicine services exist beyond Felix, if say at midnight you realize you’ve run out of birth control and your prescription has expired, it would be $100+ to connect with a doctor that night through other Canadian telemedicine platforms to get a new prescription (since you’re connecting with a doctor directly during overnight hours).
So how does it work?
Through Felix’s direct-to-consumer approach, you would fill out a short online quiz or ‘online visit’ and then one of our doctors would review it to determine if you are eligible for a prescription. This is all done on a secure, PHIPA-compliant digital platform, which means only the doctor can see your health information. If you’re eligible, the Felix doctor would issue a prescription and an accredited pharmacy would be notified to fill and ship the medication. You would then receive your prescription delivered discreetly to your door within two days and thereafter on a recurring, subscription-style basis.
Is it just about convenience?
The Felix approach is more than that. In addition to the anytime/anywhere benefit, there is added discretion using our platform, as some may find it awkward or uncomfortable to relay personal health information face-to-face. Also when you complete an online assessment for a specific ailment (ie. birth control) on Felix, you’re taken through a personalized and highly tailored experience developed by some of Canada’s top medical specialists and pharmacologists.
But does that mean I don’t get to speak to a doctor?
Even though you’re not interacting with a doctor in real-time, a Felix doctor reviews your request and the platform offers you the ability to securely message them with any questions or concerns you may have. And the same goes for the doctor — they can reach out to you to follow up on anything that will help them make their decision about your treatment.
How do I know if I’m getting ‘good care’ if I’m not seeing a doctor in person?
It’s totally understandable to feel unsure about the treatment you’re receiving when you’re not seeing a doctor face-to-face. But with Felix, there is consistency and predictability when completing an online visit as the experience has been standardized for each ailment — so it’s the same experience each and every time. And there is added accountability because you have to answer each medical question to get to the next and the doctor has to review every question in order to provide a treatment plan.
Rather than a doctor having to remember to ask and record a laundry list of questions in real time, those questions are handled in the Felix online visit and the results are organized for the doctor, so they can focus their time and energy on making a decision based on your unique health profile and medical history. When going to a walk-in clinic or talking to a random doctor through traditional telemedicine services the level and quality of care differs each time with each provider.
The Felix model doesn’t just benefit the patient: it’s better for doctors, clinics and the broader Canadian healthcare system. We at Felix believe it can help alleviate the immense pressure doctors are facing and reduce wait times for those who need in-person attention the most.
Everyone should have access to high-value care and through Felix, users can quickly, easily and safely access the healthcare they need to improve their quality of life.
No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Felix is not a pharmacy or drug manufacturer.
