VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS COME OF AGE
Before COVID-19 virtual health consultations had been tested at a pilot level and were a shaping up as an exciting new way of working. The technology and our ability to make it work for patients and staff was then put to a tougher test with the leap into lockdown. We needed innovative solutions – quickly – and virtual health consultations were expedited to everyday care. Here are two examples are how consultations enabled continuity of care during COVID-19.
SHARED SCREENS ENABLE SAME-PAGE APPROACH — Nelson Hospital’s Paediatric Outpatients Department had been planning a pilot virtual health project before lockdown, so were well-placed to take their diabetes clinic online when they needed to. The virtual clinics brought a paediatrician, diabetes nurse specialist and dietitian online into one ‘Zoom room’ with a patient and their family. Paediatrician and virtual health advocate Dr Peter McIlroy says the clinics were a resounding success for all involved. “The clinics exceeded my expectation,” he says. “One family in particular were in a rural location but the connection was not an issue and the conversation was seamless.” The ability to share screens was particularly beneficial, says Paediatric Dietitian Helen Norrish. “It allowed the multidisciplinary team to view and discuss patient information at the same time and formulate a plan. Parents were also able to share information with the team in this way, which I think helped them to feel connected and involved in their child’s treatment,” Helen says. Diabetes Nurse Specialist Pauline Tout says that the extra time needed to prepare for a virtual consultation was worth it. “Credit must be given to both nursing and admin staff who took this new technology in their stride, setting up the meetings and ensured everyone was prepared,” Pauline says.
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Above: Dr Peter McIlrory
Virtual clinics can enhance a cross-disciplinary approach to care, as health professionals can collaborate and participate in real time during the session and collectively contribute to a patient’s care plan. The patient is also part of the discussion. Dr Peter McIlroy says that this approach provides a significant advantage to health outcomes and the future of NMH’s healthcare system. “I would encourage all clinicians to look at how they can use the technology to connect with their patients. Picking up the phone provides a form of communication and we can use it to convey information but a virtual appointment provides much more to both the patient and to the clinician,” Peter says.
The virtual clinics brought a paediatrician, diabetes nurse specialist and dietitian online into one ‘Zoom room’ with a patient and their family.
