Telehealth
In the dynamic world of healthcare, the State of Victoria (2022) defines telehealth as the game-changing solution that bridges the gap between distance and quality care. By harnessing the power of information and communication technologies, telehealth breaks down barriers and connects participants, ensuring access to flexible and comprehensive services.
Ever since the onset of COVID-19, Victorian healthcare providers have swiftly embraced telehealth, revolutionizing the way care is delivered. This shift brings newfound flexibility and expanded choices for both consumers and healthcare providers, empowering communities across the entirety of Victoria.
This microlearning explores what telehealth is and how it contributes to more accessible health care delivery.
Aim: To provide an overview of the core principles of telehealth, set up requirements and considerations.
Objective: In this microlearning you will explore an overview of telehealth.
This video, produced by WeCan: Getting started with Telehealth, aims to help you feel more confident using telehealth. The video steps through preparing for a video call, logging on and joining the call with your health professional.
Telehealth
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is the secure transmission of images, voice and data between two or more sites via telecommunication channels. The platform allows sites to provide clinical advice, consultation, monitoring, education and training and administrative services.
A teletrial is usually in the form of a videoconference between the primary and satellite sites. This means the patient would only have to attend their local hospital, participating in virtual trial visits with the investigating clinician at the primary site.
This video was developed by Amanda Robinson, Bendigo Health: Telehealth Victoria and is among the resources developed by The Telehealth Victoria Community of Practice which was initiated with support from the Victorian Government in 2017 and 2018.
The video provides an overview of what telehealth is in a Victorian setting.
Set up requirements
If the regional hospital regularly conducts telehealth consultations for patients, the required facilities will already be available to conduct a joint telehealth video consultation for a teletrial.
Most public hospitals will have a government provided platform to conduct telehealth consultations (such as HealthDirect Australia Video Call platform). However, if an institution does not have this platform, other commercially supported applications that have reasonable inbuilt and automated security and privacy controls may acceptable.
Expensive equipment or technology is not required – video conferencing can be done using any computer with a web camera and microphone, as well as a private area to conduct the consultation, such as a consulting room.
Considerations
When conducting trial visits via joint telehealth consultation, consideration will need to be given to scheduling of appointments to ensure that visits are at a time suitable for both the primary site and teletrial site study teams.
Medico-legal considerations for telehealth services
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has developed a resource for health services and clinicians which provides an overview of the laws that need to be considered when delivering or receiving medical advice using telehealth technologies.
Medico-legal aspects of telehealth services for Victorian public health services covers elements including the duty of care, informed consent, privacy and data confidentiality and insurance and indemnification.
Resource details
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