Everything You Need To Know About Telehealth

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2Contents

3What Is Telehealth?

The NHS Long Term Plan & Telehealth

Here in the UK, the future guidelines of the NHS are having a massive impact on the telehealth industry. The organisation has pledged to focus

on utilising technology within healthcare in the next 5-years.

They want every patient to have access to online digital GP consultations after this timeframe, opening up an enormous opportunity for telehealth

technology to expand in the health industry. This rapid growth means that local health organisations need to embrace the change quickly

and efficiently.

Telehealth (also known as digital health, telemedicine and eHealth) is the remote exchange of data and communication for health-related services.

This huge umbrella term covers a range of situations where technology is utilised within healthcare to manage data and communicate efficiently: from patient data management, to consultants attending Multi Disciplinary Team Meetings (MDT’s) via video, and from treatment being administered over video as teleconsultations, to self-assessment applications.

Quite simply the term refers to the adoption of technology by the health industry - and it’s an area that’s rapidly growing.

4Healthcare Professionals That Can Benefit From Telehealth

Telehealth is useful for a variety of healthcare professionals and patients alike. Its versatile application means that the possibilities are endless - allowing it to help health experts in a range of situations on a daily basis.

Could telehealth impact you in your role? See some examples of how healthcare professionals can utilise telehealth to improve their performance and patient experience:

Clinicians & Specialists

• Discuss cases remotely• Transfer of data to specialists• Controlling robotic surgical

equipment

Specialists discuss the case of a patient from remote locations, before feeding back on treatment to the clinician who is the main point of contact in the case.

Pharmacists

• Offer remote advice• Ordering prescriptions

Restrictions on resources are lifted as pharmacists can provide advice online and easily answer questions. Ordering stock becomes more efficient and streamlined.

Find out more about Visconn Clinic

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GP Surgeries

• Deliver remote appointments• Promotion of new health

schemes• Processing patient data• Appointment booking and

reminder systems• Reduce waiting times• Prevent the spread of

infection

A local GP offers new remote consultations to reduce waiting times, prevent the spread of illness and connect with specialists within the nearest city.

Trainee Doctors

• Receive training online• Video conferencing with peers• Distance education• Research resources

Students find distance learning helps with their studies. Having access to online video conferencing slots with their peers allows them to learn detailed knowledge and get hands-on experience that can be observed remotely by their tutor.

Patients

• Remote appointments• Accessibility - interpreters can be

present for consultations• Home monitoring - sending health

data to their doctors • Access to information and resources

An elderly patient lives in a rural area and has difficulty getting to appointments. A remote appointment allows them to get quick healthcare advice from their GP and they can send vital health data over to their surgery, so that the centre can monitor their health to see if an admission to hospital is necessary.

Care Workers

• Monitor patients health with efficiency

• Transfer key data and communication between care workers

• Tertiary care organisations can identify new patients that could benefit from services

Care workers are able to exchange updated notes on clients in real-time, ensuring that nothing is missed when changing shifts.

6Why Is Telehealth Important?

Telehealth is a vital advancement in the health industry. The impact it’s technology has for improving patient care is unrivalled, and it’s important that your organisation recognises key areas in which it can be used to improve performance and streamline processes.Telehealth’s importance spans a wide range of aspects that are far-reaching in their impact on both patient experience and general healthcare.

Building Communication Between Patients & ProfessionalsIt’s more important than ever to ensure good communication and transparency between patients and professionals. At a time when resources within the NHS are stretched, opening new communication channels and information exchange between patients and the health service can provide a much-needed relief on the strain of resources.

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Adapting To Patients’ ExpectationsIn this modern digital age, companies across all industries are having to adapt and embrace technology advancements - and the health sector is no different. Consumers now expect companies to be proactive in developing digital touchpoints and providing flexible digital interactions. For the healthcare industry these ‘consumers’ are the suppliers, professionals and patients - all of which expect smooth and seamless user experiences (UX) online. So what does a ‘seamless digital user experience’ look like for the healthcare industry? Online resources, digital booking systems, remote consultations and immediate access to data are just some of the forms this UX can take in the health industry - and it’s vital that your organisation is providing a satisfactory experience. Find out more about Visconn Clinic

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Reduce Strain On ResourcesBy shortening waiting times, offering flexible appointments, answering patient queries, filtering out the lowest level of ailments and more, you can reduce the strain on your organisation’s resources. This in turn will lead to improved patient care.

Improve Patient ExperiencePatients can stay being treated in their existing facility, without having to move between organisations depending on the specialisms and capabilities of each organisation. This allows them to stay local and can improve their quality of life during treatment.

Reduce Unnecessary AdmissionsBy enabling patients to monitor their vital healthcare data from home, you can prevent unnecessary readmissions after treatment. Follow-up consultations can be delivered remotely, removing the need for patients to come into hospital or surgery to have their issue discussed.

Cost-EffectiveTelehealth can free up vital resources and bridge the gap of funding for healthcare organisations. Once installed, the systems make daily operations much quicker and efficient, allowing you to achieve huge volumes of work in short spaces of time.

Flexibility & Remote WorkingSave travel and time costs by allowing specialists to collaborate from anywhere in the world. Geographical restrictions are removed by the flexibility of telehealth services, meaning you can get access to any professional at any time.

Medical TrainingTraining quality improves with the sharing of data and information - allowing an influx of new professionals and upskilling in the industry.

The Benefits of Telehealth

Telehealth can bring a huge amount of advantages to your organisation. See some of the most common benefits the technology can have:

9Telehealth Services

Telehealth technology can be applied for a wide range of services spanning the entire healthcare industry. Find out how it can be applied to your organisation’s work for a range of illnesses and treatments:

DiabetesConsultations can be delivered to patients in the comfort of their own home. Patients can be given improved technology to track their vital health data and control their diabetes with ease.

StrokeAdvanced powered carts can be utilised in A&E by consultants and connected to a computer or app, speeding up diagnosis within the vital window of care. This technology can be applied across other departments within the hospital.

PhysiotherapyCommunity patient sessions can be delivered remotely, as well as general check-ins to check that the physiotherapy plan is being followed. Patients can submit videos of their exercises to ensure they’re being performed correctly.

Cystic FibrosisRemote video consultations prevent any risk of cross contamination or infection. New treatment plans and medicine can be discussed with the patient without them having to leave their home.

Mental HealthRemote consultations enable the patient to attend the session from the comfort of their home, rather than the sometimes daunting step of attending an appointment. Additionally, the specialist can see patient data, sometimes gathered from wearables, whilst talking to the patient which provides them with a broader perspective.

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Speech & Language Therapy

Sessions and general exercises can be delivered remotely by video. This allows staff to treat a larger volume of patients without needing to travel. New pilot schemes like ‘Teleswallowing’ (helping patients swallow remotely) can be used with telehealth technology.

CancerDoctors and specialists from multiple regions can come together to offer advice and decide on the most effective treatment plan.

Paediatric CardiologyScans can be carried out locally with specialists reviewing the video footage to see if a referral is needed. Families can be offered video facilities within their own home when taking a newborn back, meaning that families can go home sooner and beds are freed up quicker.

Cuts, Wounds & Minor InjuriesPatients can show their wound remotely to a specialist who can advise on whether the wound needs treating. After treatment, professionals can monitor if the wound is healing correctly and whether it requires further treatment. This will reduce a huge amount of visits to A&E and minor injury units.

Interpreting & AccessibilityTelehealth can make interpreters available and give increased access for patients with visual or sound impairments. These services can be utilised via apps or portable devices to give instant access to a sign language interpreter or language interpreter. Visconn for Healthcare

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DietaryConsultations can be delivered to patients from home, both in group and one-to-one sessions. Patients can have access to a huge amount of resources and information to help them make informed choices.

AwarenessRaise awareness of new schemes and initiatives within the community, ensuring that patients understand the services on offer to them.

NeonatalParents and family members can be at the bedside remotely for visitation or emergency meetings and consultants can quickly be brought in to view a situation over video app or screen as needed.

Student TrainingJunior doctors can get a hands-on experience, performing routine procedures with a simulation family whilst trainers observe. Students can have increased peer conferencing time available remotely, and can study with the help of online aids.

Development & TrainingStaff can be kept up-to-date with online training and recorded live streams of courses. Training can be delivered to recipients globally without the need to travel. Links can be provided from the theatre to the classroom for training on any operations or procedures.

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Second Opinions & ConsultationsTelehealth makes it easy to bring in specialists from other areas to give second opinions or advise on patient care. Specialists in certain areas can be utilised more often by different organisations.

Follow-Ups & Routine Check-InsCheck-ins can be conducted at any hospital organisation, as data can be easily exchanged. This allows patients to be treated in a hospital but rehabilitate elsewhere.

Virtual ClinicsCreate virtual clinics for almost any illness or ailment. Providing comprehensive patient care in the community, particularly in situations where only a general check or discussion is required.

SpecialistsSpecialists can be easily reached to provide reassurance for patients, particularly in the event of complex cases. They can contribute to ongoing cases and provide much-needed expert opinions.

Virtual VisitsFamily members and friends can be allowed to visit virtually. This can help relieve the cost for patient’s loved ones, particularly in the case of patients who are in hospital for longer periods of time or children. Increased communication with family members can help with patients’ mental health recovery.

13What Is Needed For Telehealth?

Telehealth is simple to utilise. The only main requirement to incorporate technology into your healthcare organisation is a strong and reliable internet connection.

With its flexibility, telehealth can be used with relatively low-cost equipment - including smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. It’s easy to highlight areas for opportunity in your organisation and, by speaking to a telehealth consultant, you can quickly design a plan to implement this in your operations.

Want To Know More About Telehealth?

The opportunities with telehealth are endless! Find out everything you need to know about the latest technology advancements within the industry, and how telehealth can be implemented in your organisation, by visiting www.xuper.com/healthcare

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Our completely customisable communications platform incorporates video, voice and instant messenger all in one solution.

Whether you’re looking to connect for an MDT, a training session or a teleconsultation, Visconn can be utilised for them all and provide you with the ability to share documents, present to attendees and more.

To request a demo, click here

• With Visconn you can conduct video calls with as many people as you need, present your screen, and share documents or treatment plans quickly and easily.

• Visconn is compatible with all major platforms, including Skype for Business, all major hardware (CISCO, Sony, Polycom, Yealink etc.) and has the ability to integrate with medical devices, such as heart rate monitors.

• The platform can also be completely customised to fit with your brand, making it look and feel like your own.

• Our dedicated service desk can create all of your appointments for you and be on hand to support you.

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To request a demo, click here

Visconn Clinic is a tailor-made teleconsultation solution specifically developed to aid the delivery of digital healthcare. The seamless combination of an appointment booking system and video consultation platform, means the system is easy to use for both clinicians and patients. The various integrations including Fitbit, enables the healthcare professional to visually communicate with the patient,and view real time patient data.

Platform compatabilityCompatible with all major platforms, including Skype for Business, Google Hangouts and more.

Customised to suit youCompletely customisable to fit the design and brand you want.

Integrates with your technologyCompatible with your current technology, such as heart rate monitors.

Endpoint compatibility Compatible with all major endpoints, including CISCO, Sony, Polycom, Yealink and more.

Share documents Present your screen, share documents, treatments plans etc. to all of the conference participants.

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