The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College in Baotou city -- in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region -- recently launched an online inquiry and diagnosis platform providing further convenience for residents, according to a Feb 10 report in the Baotou Evening News.

To access the service, residents should search for the official WeChat account of the hospital. The QR codes for medical experts and specialists will be shown on screen. Scan the QR codes and online consultations can be activated.

Officials said the initiative was undertaken to cut down on the frequent number of trips to the hospital made by patients with other mild and chronic diseases, as well as to reduce the risk of infection in the wake of the  coronavirus outbreak.

The online platform went into operation on Jan 28, with 40 medical experts in the hospital participating. Officials said it marked the first online inquiry and diagnosis platform in Baotou city.

As of noon that day, the doctors had conducted consultations of over 500 people.

According to the hospital’s medical staff, the online experts also had to undertake the heavy medical work of the hospital.

They said nowadays there are more consultations being conducted in pediatrics, otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine, so patients may not always get timely responses online. In the circumstances, officials advised people to be patient.

People with a fever are advised to contact the hospital on:  0472-2178038.