Authors (including presenting author) :
(1) Chuen Felix (Chuen F), (1) Sum Nga Wai (Sum NW), (1) Chuk Chung Yee (Chuk CY), (1) (2) Kwan Wai Man Cecilia (Kwan WMC), (2) Mok Ka Wai Alice (Mok KWA)
Affiliation :
(1) Palliative Care, Bradbury Hospice, (2) Palliative Care, North District Hospital, (3) Palliative Care, Shatin Hospital
Introduction :
Face to face consultation should always be the mainstream of clinical practice. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic hindered some vulnerable patients to attend clinic follow up, Day care and even home visits.
With the advancement of information and communication technology, tele-care provides an alternative method to maintain clinical support to patients when physical contact with the patient is not feasible. The NTEC Palliative Care Team initiated tele-care service since 2020 to support patients with advanced diseases in the community. (81 words)
Objectives :
To enable Palliative Care professionals to provide clinical care when conventional in-person consultation is non-available in particular situations.
To incorporate telecare as an alternative and complementary mode of Palliative Care service. (31 words)
Methodology :
All patients receiving NTEC palliative services including SOPC, home care and day care were potential candidates. Those new cases required physical examination or large amendment of dangerous medications were excluded. The teleconsultation was carried out at clinic or Palliative Day Care center in a multidisciplinary approach providing medical consultation, nursing interventions, allied health services and Advance Care Plan (ACP) discussion. The service was provided through video call via designated hospital mobile phone or tablet. Service delivery mode include: (1) On-site tele-consultation in which PC home care nurse present at patient’s home and facilitates the tele-consultation. (2) Off-site tele-consultation in which health care professionals were in the hospital while the patient/family were at their home. Each tele-consultation session took 30 – 45mins and to be reviewed on need basis. (125 words)
Result & Outcome :
Data from Jan – Nov 2021 were collected. There were 203 tele-consultations provided via video call by the PC multidisciplinary team. These included 9 on-site calls and 194 off-site calls, in which, 12 were medical consultation, 191 were Multidisciplinary Day Care Support.
Patients and their family gave positive feedback and welcomed this complementary service. Tele-care saves traveling time and ease the regional restriction while maintaining quality of care. The experience reflected that the success of tele-consultations depended on the quality of electronic devices, network connection signal, privacy security of communication software, as well as the competency in using smart asset and software technical problem-solving skills of both the health care workers and care givers. Furthermore, the secured Zoom system via HAGO would be a great support in the future. (128 words)
Conclusion:
Tele-care enhanced the continuity of care for patients who could not attend medical follow up/day service in-person. This mode of service may likely be further applied to better manage the growing demands in community service. (35 words)
