Clinic-Alpha brings French medicine to Houston

Professor Jacques Cinqualbre made a bold bet: to eliminate the distance between French patients in Houston and their doctor in France.

This honorary professor of surgery at the Strasbourg University Hospital will open a remote consultation center called Clinic-Alpha in February to facilitate access to care for French expatriates.

The principle is simple: allow patients to use remote video maintenance, only when their pathology allows. The patient will be able to choose a doctor in France or to call on a specialist, cardiologist, pediatric gynecologist or even his doctor, to ensure continuity of care. " There is no language barrier, no wait times, immediate care and drug delivery ", Summarizes Jacques Cinqualbre. He spent three years in Houston, which for him is "the" world medical center.

Clinic-Alpha is the project of Hopi Medical, the professor's company. The economic paper The echoes described it as a "precursor of tele-medicine". The company founded in 2005 in Strasbourg had already tried to offer a tele-medicine solution to French expatriates in Houston in 2015 but The echoes report that the system had failed, "the price of the consultation was not covered by either of the two health systems", French or American. Things have changed since September 2018, when the reimbursement of tele-consultation by the Health Insurance was authorized in France.

The on-site reception will be by a French nurse, in charge of examining the patient with all types of devices (the LIM Star touchscreen cart, the ECG for the tracings, an ultrasound machine for palpations, a stethoscope, a otoscope, electrocardiogram and dermatoscope). It also allows the doctor in France to make his diagnosis in real time. " It can also be useful in some cases, such as obtaining a medical certificate, a prescription renewal, a second opinion or for chronic patients such as diabetics who want an explanation of their test result. Says nurse Tiphaine Lemasson.

Ultimately, Hopi Medical wants all patients listed by Clinic-Alpha to benefit from "tele-counseling from home" on their tablet, smartphone or computer by connecting directly with doctors, for follow-ups.

The clinic will have its own stock of drugs imported from France that it will deliver with prescriptions, validated by a remote pharmacist. The payment of the service will be in euros and can be reimbursed by the mutual of the patient.

According to management, cost reduction is not insignificant and should appeal to companies. Some mutuals will opt for full coverage of consultations or even lower premiums. Hopi Medical is committed to negotiating with the organizations involved.

This program offered to French expatriates should not stop there. Indeed, Professor Jacques Cinalubre plans to open a home visiting service by the end of 2019. " Our ultimate ambition is to offer more specialties to expatriates in a virtual hospital Says Damien Ulrich, co-founder of Hopi Medical. And why not a firm in the company? A track to explore according to him, after other openings of clinics in the United States (Miami, San Francisco …).