Authors (including presenting author) :
LI L L(1), WONG NS (1), CHAN CY (1), WONG YFB(1)
Dr. W CHEN(2), Dr. KO CF(2)
CHIU A(3)
LEUNG K(4), LEUNG S(4), LAW C(4), WONG B(4)
Affiliation :
(1)Specialist Out-Patient Clinic, North Lantau Hospital
(2)Department of Medicine and Geriatric, North Lantau Hospital
(3)IT Department, North Lantau Hospital
(4)IT Department, Hospital Authority
Introduction :
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hospital Authority (HA) has been striving the reengineer the various models of services. One of service models is to improve the quality and safety patient care in out-patient clinics to minimize the number of attendants and control the risk of cross infection. The pilot Smart Village Telehealth Service Programme is implemented in North Lantau hospital (NLTH) Specialist Out-Patient Clinic (SOPC) to serve those patients who live in remote areas such as Tai O or Mui Wo. It is not only less patient’s travelling time but also enhance carer’s to participate in the care of patient health.
Objectives :
There are two main objectives for the pilot programme:
(1)For patients and carers beneficial:
- Less travelling, queuing & waiting time
- Increase the self-health empowerment
- Engage relatives or carer’s to participate in the care of patient health
(2)For clinical perspectives:
- Minimize the risk of cross infection in clinic
- Trusted platform by using the HA Go
- Catalyst for new service models
Methodology :
The pilot Smart Village Teleheath Service Programme was initiated by HAHO and collaborated with local IT department and Tai O and Mui Wo rural committee office (RCO). The target patients were living in Tai O or Mui Wo and follow up NLTH Medical or Geriatric OPC.
(1)HAHO liaised with Tai O and Mui Wo rural committee office (RCO) and provided relevant IT training to RCO staff and clinic staff to facilitate to conduct the telehealth consultation with technical support. Workflow was set up. Service drills were conducted for each RCO before programe implementation.
(2)Patients who clinical stable were recruited. They were invited to open and activate the app of HA Go.
(3)Patient and relatives could attend RCO office and local staff would provide the relevant IT support to conduct telehealth consultation. It could reduce their worries for the operation of HA Go app, payment procedures or wifi coverage at home.
(4)After doctor consultation, clinic nursing staff was feasible to coordinate post consultation follow up issues and educate patient relatives or RCO staff for medication or documents collection via telehealth communication.
Result & Outcome :
The pilot program was implemented since August 2022. There were total 5 patients to participate the telehealth service. All patients with advance age from 60 to 89 years old. or medical condition with home oxygen therapy. Three patients were living at Tai O and two patients living in Mui Wo. Two patients attended RCO and three patients chose to stay at home for the telehealth service. Throughout the process of telehealth consultation, it was observed that patient relatives participated in consultation process actively and showed more devotion to the patient’s condition. According to patient satisfactory survey through telephone interview, all patients expressed that they were willing to continue the consultation by telehealth mode next time and no different between attend clinic physically or telehealth at home or RCO which could less their travelling time.
To conclude, the Pilot Smart Village Telehealth Program is beneficial to patient especially for those mobility dependence who live in rural areas and lower level of technical knowledge in mobile app operation or WIFI coverage at home. The way forward will collaborate with more local NGOs to increase the pool of local support. The service can be considered to extend to other specialties to serve more needy patients in next phase.
