A Word From Dr. Ken Alanen
On Covid-19 & Telemedicine
With the precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, traditional health care options are not available. Until recently, telemedicine (telehealth) was an unknown concept for many Canadians. However, as a Dermatologist I've practiced telemedicine for ten plus years (in fact, over 20,000 patients have been seen by myself over this time). As with most telehealth platforms, I performed this as a doctor to doctor service. But less than one year ago, I launched Acne.ca – the first direct patient to specialist service in Canada.
Telehealth is a natural extension of dermatology. Why? Because practically every single condition that a dermatologist treats is based on a visual diagnosis – “to see it is to diagnose it” is a common phrase in the world of dermatology. Basically, if you have a camera system, you can do teledermatology – it really is that easy.
To help do our part during this crisis, we are providing telemedicine dermatology consultations using our virtual platform for $0. That’s right – zero dollars. We want to remove all barriers to the best possible care for your skin.
Theses consultations are performed by myself a growing team of highly skilled certified Dermatologists.
For more details about our service during the COVID-19 crisis please see our FAQ below.
- Dr. Ken Alanen
Frequent Asked Questions
If you have any additional general questions about our service or specific questions about our offer during the Covid-19 crisis, please contact us directly via email at [email protected].
Are these dermatology consultations actually free? What's the catch?
Yes - they are free. And no - there is no catch. We're performing these consultations to help out Canadians that otherwises wouldn't have access. It's a difficult time for everyone, and this is a way we're hoping to help.
If it's free, why do I need a credit card?
There are a couple reasons why a credit card is required. Firstly, ownership of a credit card proves that someone is the age of majority in their province. And secondly, the Acne.ca platform was to require a "purchase" to function and modifying it to require a "$0 purchase" was the most expedient approach for us.
How long will this offer last for? (Updated)
June 14, 2020 will be the last day of this offer.
How long will this consultation take to perform?
Consultations are typically completed (meaning treatment plan and prescriptions have been sent) between 48 and 72 hours. But depending on demand, it's possible these numbers may increase. If wait times increase, we'll communicate that. But overall we'd still ask for your patientence and understanding.
Is this offer available to all provinces and territories?
Yes it is.
What kind of issues are a good candidate for this service?
If you have an issue or concern we would encourage you to register and take advantage of the service. While not everything can be treated through telemedicine, a consultation could correct a previous misdiagnosis, provide peace-of-mind or allow us to refer you to a local specialist in your region. All we ask is that you limit your consultations to dermatology-related issues.
Skip The Dermatologist's Office
No need for a referal. No need to wait. Get a treatment plan from a certified dermatologist.
