Definition
A consultation is the initial assessment in which a doctor or specialist reviews the patient's case. In medical tourism it's usually done online (by video call) or from photos and documents, with some clinics doing a second, in-person assessment when the patient arrives.
It's a critical step on the way from lead to patient: the treatment plan and price usually become clear after this conversation.
Why it matters for clinics
The share of leads that reach a consultation reflects the quality of your first contact and sales team. Seeing consultations in the calendar by agent and doctor lets you measure which channels convert to consultations most easily. AI agents can also collect photos and book consultations, without ever making a diagnosis.
Example
A patient enquiring about rhinoplasty receives the photo guide from an agent and books a 20-minute online consultation for Thursday. The appointment appears in the surgeon's calendar, and after the call the patient moves to "Treatment plan sent".