Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Yeung PH(1), Chan YKJ(1), Lam YF(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Besides regular face-to-face training as the core mode of service in Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH), the GDH Telehealth service has become an important alternative and efficient service delivery for GDH patients and carers to enhance the seamless geriatric service. Patients can stay safely at home with provision of domestic multidisciplinary training and education from the multidisciplinary team (PT/ OT/ Nurse/ Doctor).
Objectives :
The GDH Telehealth service aimed to facilitate remote monitoring of patient’s health condition, empowerment of self-care and provision of uninterrupted GDH service even in the pandemic as previously GDH service had been suspended or stopped by outbreak, leading to deterioration of geriatric problems.
Methodology :
Since March 2023, all new GDH patients were screened for their capability of utilization of HA Go Telehealth service including basic IT knowledge and mobile devices’ compatibility. Mutual agreement had been sought for the GDH Telehealth service and then GDH nurses provided on-site training of using HA Go Telehealth service for the suitable patients and/or carers. The GDH Telehealth sessions were arranged weekly with provision of training and education by multidisciplinary team (PT/ OT/ Nurse/ Doctor). Return demonstration of domestic exercise, home modification assessment and advice, drug compliance monitoring, disease management and drug reconciliation had been delivered to patients and/or carers via HA Go Telehealth.
Result & Outcome :
From 21/3/2023 to 31/12/2023, a total of 233 attendances via HA Go GDH Telehealth had been conducted. The Telehealth service contributed nearly 2% of total GDH attendances in the period of 188 service days. Telephone feedback were collected from 30 GDH patients / carers after participation in the Telehealth service. The six-point Likert scale used for the feedback ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” Majority of them agreed that Telehealth service could further enhance their disease management at home (Mean:5.4, Strongly Agree: 37%, Agree 63%) and the duration was adequate (Mean:5.6, Strongly Agree: 60%, Agree 40%). Moreover, most of them agreed that balance, awareness of fall prevention and home safety were improved (Mean:5.2 Strongly Agree: 20%, Agree 80%). Concerning the overall satisfaction, most of these GDH patients appreciated the arrangement and would like to join the Telehealth service.Patients were willing to communicate with healthcare providers closely too.
The feedback from the patients and carers provided evidence of beneficial effects of the GDH Telehealth service. The implementation of GDH Telehealth service has strengthened the service delivery to the older patients. Healthcare providers can easily provide the designated and seamless care by connecting with patients via HA Go Telehealth. Currently Telehealth service has its limitations and may not be suitable for all GDH patients due to technical difficulties in using HA Go Telehealth. With further promulgation to patients and carers and enhancement of HA Go functions, GDH Telehealth will become one of the invaluable and efficient service models for the GDH patients to enhance geriatric support in day hospital.
