COVO-CHAT: An Innovative Telemedicine Tool for Online Consultation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVO-CHAT app focuses mainly on online consultation with healthcare professionals from various medical specialties, in different languages or even in local accents, based on user selection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main focus of this app could be clarifying queries concerning infodemics and providing medical advice. Aggregate reports could be presented to higher health authorities and to health-related policymakers.

Moreover, this app and its related web pages could be used by healthcare professionals for follow-up of users and may present the outcomes to healthcare centers and physicians with consideration of medical ethics principles and privacy of medical records.

Evidence from our setting suggests that the COVO-CHAT may be a cost-effective and time-saving app that could be efficiently leveraged to bridge the gap of expertise and to train healthcare workers, particularly during pandemics, although end-users may be charged monthly or on a subscription basis. Further studies are warranted to shed light on the suitability of this modern app.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, COVOCHAT, COVO-CHAT, infodemic