Access to American medical expertise is becoming easier for Georgian patients and their families. For the first time in Georgia, an international telemedicine platform based entirely on US regulations\u2014MedVeritas Global\u2014has started operating.<\/p>\n
The platform will help patients receive a second, alternative medical opinion in a comfortable environment and as quickly as possible. During complex medical cases, MedVeritas Global ensures that patients or their family members can verify their diagnosis with highly qualified US doctors and receive treatment recommendations based on the latest approaches without leaving Georgia.<\/p>\n
The platform will also foster deeper professional collaboration between Georgian and American colleagues, which will ensure the alignment of the best approaches and the formulation of an optimal treatment plan for complex medical conditions. The initiative does not replace the role of local doctors. On the contrary, it promotes reaching an agreement on the best treatment regimen for the patient through joint consultations.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, part of the public believes that telemedicine merely implies a simple, remote video call with a doctor. In reality, the MedVeritas Global model is a complex, multi-tiered system that has managed to gain the trust of practicing doctors in America based on a sound infrastructure and legal guarantees; it establishes strict protocols for patient data security according to US standards. At the same time, MedVeritas Global itself ensures the selection of the most highly qualified doctors across the United States and provides full legal guarantees for patient rights.<\/p>\n
Nino Mikaberidze, a US-based rheumatologist, co-founder of the platform, and Clinical Director of MedVeritas Global, answers our questions regarding these invisible but critically important mechanisms, system standards, and the protection of patient rights. She tells us in detail how MedVeritas Global works and the complex path a patient’s medical history takes from the initial request to the final report of the American specialist.<\/p>\n
Ms. Nino, there is a misconception in society that telemedicine just means chatting with a doctor via a video call. A fully standardized and legally sound American telemedicine service, like what you offer at MedVeritas Global, did not exist in Georgia until now. I would like to ask you, using your platform as an example, to tell us how complex and multi-step the system of connecting a patient with an American doctor really is, and how the final report is obtained?<\/b><\/p>\n
Before connecting a patient to an American doctor, full medical and administrative coordination takes place. First, the patient or the patient’s family fills out an application form on the official MedVeritas Global website or contacts our representation in Tbilisi by phone. Subsequently, the patient can upload existing medical documentation via a special mobile application or apply to our office located at the clinic on 2 Givi Zhvania Street. Within a maximum of 7 days, our office connects patients and their families with an appropriate specialist in the US; a video call is scheduled for the medical consultation, and the patient is provided with a full report including the diagnosis and treatment regimens. Importantly, we give patients the opportunity to reach out to the American doctor with additional questions even after receiving the medical report.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that for each patient’s case, a Georgian doctor-coordinator from the MedVeritas Global Georgia office is assigned, who has successfully passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Accordingly, they know exactly how the process should be conducted in compliance with American standards\u2014from the patient’s first request to the delivery of the final report. This significantly simplifies both professional communication with American doctors and the overcoming of linguistic and systemic barriers for Georgian doctors and patients. The telemedicine platform offered by MedVeritas Global is a fully coordinated medical, technological, and operational infrastructure that securely connects Georgian patients with leading US specialists.<\/p>\n
Exchanging medical data over the internet requires certain cybersecurity standards. Specifically, what security protocols does the platform use, and how is the confidentiality of patients’ personal data protected?<\/b><\/p>\n
As we mentioned, the patient’s full information is stored in a secure EMR (Electronic Medical Records) system compliant with HIPAA standards, where data is transmitted through encrypted channels, making unauthorized access to documentation practically impossible. Accordingly, only the doctors and coordinators directly working on a specific patient’s case have access; all their actions within the system are logged and monitored. Furthermore, for video consultations, we use a secure medical telebridge integrated directly into the EMR system, not public video applications. This secure link can be used by anyone the patient wishes, including their local attending physician and family members. Patient confidentiality is not only a technical but also a supreme ethical responsibility for us.<\/p>\n
Often, a second opinion from a foreign specialist can cause distrust or discomfort for the local attending physician. Through what protocol do you ensure that this process represents healthy teamwork and does not bring the Georgian doctor’s competence into question?<\/b><\/p>\n
Valuing the professionalism of Georgian doctors and maintaining collegial, partner relationships with them is one of MedVeritas Global’s core values. The bond existing between a patient and their local attending physician, based on trust and daily care, cannot be replaced by an alternative medical opinion, and that is not our goal. Our service not only doesn’t question the competence of Georgian colleagues, but on the contrary, MedVeritas Global offers patients and local doctors an additional professional resource that can be immensely valuable for sharing professional experience in particularly complex, rare, and multidisciplinary clinical cases, and primarily serves the patient’s best interests. In modern medicine, obtaining an alternative professional opinion is a widely spread and accepted practice in leading clinical and academic circles in both America and worldwide.<\/p>\n
We believe that a strong healthcare system is built precisely through collaboration, experience sharing, and a team approach among doctors. One of the main missions of MedVeritas Global is to create and strengthen a bridge of professional collaboration between Georgian and American doctors. To this end, in June of this year, we are already planning to launch a new initiative that will bring together open dialogues, educational meetings, and joint medical councils involving doctors practicing in Georgia and America.<\/p>\n
Ms. Nino, engaging US-licensed medical professionals, and especially medical specialists, is quite difficult. How does MedVeritas Global manage to gain the trust of practicing doctors and involve them in your platform?<\/b><\/p>\n
I agree that no highly qualified American doctor would join an initiative unless they find a professional and legal environment operating at the highest standard. That is why, from the very first day of MedVeritas Global’s creation, we have been collaborating with one of the leading, highly qualified legal teams in the US, which adapted our legal and professional framework to American standards. A particularly large amount of time, effort, and resources was invested in this process, because it was of fundamental importance to us from the start to create a system that would fully meet the professional, ethical, and legal requirements of American doctors. Moreover, the doctors’ attention to the legal framework was so high that the contract documentation underwent numerous changes in order to respond even more precisely and in detail to the demands of American doctors.<\/p>\n
The second most crucial issue is Malpractice Insurance. The majority of American clinics do not allow doctors to use the clinic’s existing insurance for additional professional activities, so having independent insurance is essential. Additionally, so-called “Tail” coverage is often required, which ensures the doctor’s protection even if a claim arises after the activity has concluded.<\/p>\n
The third crucial component is having an EMR, or Electronic Medical Records system, which ensures the direct integration of MedVeritas Global’s service with modern medical standards operating in America. Working without such a system is virtually unimaginable for US doctors, as they rely precisely on EMR platforms daily from both a professional and legal standpoint.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the guarantees of HIPAA regulation\u2014meaning the protection of patient medical data confidentiality and security at the highest standards\u2014are of critical importance. Data security, protection of patient information, and documented management of all stages of the process are essential requirements without which it is virtually impossible to convince highly qualified American specialists to collaborate.<\/p>\n
Also, on our part, we pay special attention to the criteria for selecting doctors. For MedVeritas Global, it is important that our doctors stand out not only with years of experience working in leading clinical centers and affiliation with academic institutions, but also with personal qualities, empathy, and a high culture of communication with patients. To give you a rough idea of how complex the process of integrating professionals into our platform is, selecting and contacting a single US-licensed doctor takes an average of three to four weeks.<\/p>\n
It is exactly these high standards, security mechanisms, and multi-step selection process that create the solid foundation upon which reliable and professional collaboration is built between MedVeritas Global and American doctors.<\/p>\n
Finally, such a service might involve certain financial barriers for patients and their families. How do you plan to ensure that MedVeritas Global doesn’t remain merely an elite product and becomes accessible to those who need it most?<\/b><\/p>\n
We started thinking about this issue and taking concrete steps even before the company was founded. From the beginning, one of our main goals was that access to high-quality American medical expertise should not depend solely on financial capabilities. Today, as a result of our negotiations with American providers, MedVeritas Global consultations are much more accessible for Georgian patients than similar services are for citizens of other countries.<\/p>\n
In parallel, we were convinced that a well-functioning, reliable, and high-standard system would become interesting for local insurance and financial institutions in terms of potential collaboration. Fortunately, this vision has become a reality, and today we already have active communication with several leading companies. It is worth noting that several insurance companies contacted us themselves with an interest in partnership, which we highly appreciate.<\/p>\n
And finally, starting next year, we plan to create a foundation aimed at increasing the accessibility of our services for socially vulnerable families living in Georgia. To answer your question directly, we hope that MedVeritas Global will become accessible to everyone who needs it the most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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