Enabling Change in Healthcare Structures through Teleconferencing (original) (raw)
Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), 2006
In this paper we describe the process of a multidisciplinary medical team meeting (MDTM), its functions and operation in colocated and teleconference discussions. Our goal is to identify the elements and mechanics of operation that enhance or threaten the dependability of the MDTM as a ''system'' and propose technologies and measures to make this system more reliable. In particular, we assess the effect of adding teleconferencing to the MDTM, and identify strengths and vulnerabilities introduced into the system by the addition of teleconferencing technology. We show that, with respect to the systemÕs external task environment, rhythms of execution of pre-meeting and post-meeting activities are critical for MDTM success and that the extension of the MDTM to wider geographic locations with teleconferencing might disrupt such rhythms thereby posing potential threats to dependability. On the other hand, an analysis of vocalisation patterns demonstrates that despite difficulties related to coordination and awareness in video-mediated communication (evidenced by increased time spent in case discussion, longer turns, decreased turn frequency and near lack of informal exchanges) the overall case discussion structure is unaffected by the addition of teleconferencing technology into proceedings.
Abstract: Based on observations of teleconsultations conducted between a university hospital and a geriatric hospital, this analysis shows the effect of the use of telepresence technology on doctor/patient relations and relations between practitioners, on the organisation of healthcare, as well as on professional practices and knowledge. Use of this technology requires learning and adaptation, and is accompanied by new kinds of cooperation that result, in particular, in the pooling and dissemination of clinical and medical knowledge. Task accomplishment inherent in making a remote diagnosis rests on the delegation of some of the activities that are normally carried out by specialists to geriatricians and paramedical staff at a patient's side. While interprofessional cooperation contributes to the emergence of new forms of communication and to the creation of new work groupings, it also implies a loss of some autonomy for each type of professional involved. Keywords: Telemedecine – Geriatrics – Cooperation – Delegation of tasks – E-health - Tele-health - Telecare technologies - Telepresence
Tele‐handover: Lessons and improvements from a simple change to virtual meeting
BJU International, 2021
Tele-handover: Lessons and improvements from a simple change to virtual meeting COVID-19 has brought unprecedented disruption to medicine, urology and training. Many hospitals have had to provide care for elective patients and emergency admissions on geographically separate, so-called 'hot' and 'cold', sites according to local pandemic infection control protocols [1]. Urology departments have had to effect considerable changes to long-established patterns of work, including patient flow, pathways for acute admissions, on-call rotas, and physical distribution of their clinicians. So-called 'tele-health' solutions have been central in response to these challenges. Tele-health technologies have boomed as hospital teams have adapted to working within restrictions on travel and limits on the number of individuals allowed in a room. The benefits of tele-consultations, tele-clinics [2], teleconferences [3], tele-MDTs and even tele-surgery [4] have been enormous in the last year, and many of these applications seem thoroughly established in hospitals, research and education now.
Electronic Collaboration: Using Technology to Solve Old Problems of Quality Care
The participants of the Electronic Collaboration working group of the 2010 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference developed recommendations and research questions for improving regional quality of care through the use of electronic collaboration. A writing group devised a working draft prior to the meeting and presented this to the breakout session at the consensus conference for input and approval. The recommendations include: 1) patient health information should be available electronically across the entire health care delivery system from the 9-1-1 call to the emergency department (ED) visit through hospitalization and outpatient care, 2) relevant patient health information should be shared electronically across the entire health care delivery system, 3) Web-based collaborative technologies should be employed to facilitate patient transfer and timely access to specialists, 4) personal health record adoption should be considered as a way to improve patient health, and 5) any comprehensive reform of regionalization in emergency care must include telemedicine. The workgroup emphasized the need for funding increases so that research in this new and exciting area can expand.
Multidisciplinary medical team meetings
Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Conference on Computer-Human Interaction Designing for Habitus and Habitat - OZCHI '08, 2008
We present an observational study that was conducted to guide the design of an enhanced collaboration platform to support distributed multidisciplinary team meetings between two hospitals. Our goal was to find out how the breast cancer multidisciplinary team collaborates in their face-to-face meetings and in their discussions using an existing videoconferencing system and to identify obstacles and issues to their primary tasks. We identified a set of concerns around the way visibility and audibility affect the social cohesion of the group and impede communication and situation awareness between the distributed team. We also identified a parallel set of concerns around the difficulty of preparing and interacting around the medical images used in the meetings. These issues exposed a complex matrix of technical, social, procedural and organisational factors that affect the collaboration. We suggest potential directions for technical interventions in this setting.
Teleconsultation knowledge sharing in healthcare: resource influences
The purpose of this paper is to examine the resource influences on knowledge sharing in teleconsultation. The study was conducted by interviewing 28 participants from 11 hospitals in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Top-down microanalysis of interview data was performed using a descriptive knowledge-sharing framework that focuses on resource influences. The results indicate that resources can influence knowledge sharing opportunities in teleconsultation in areas such as professional development and learning, greater training opportunities, having champions within the hospitals, IT support and the facilitation from administration.
Multidisciplinary medical team meetings: a field study of collaboration in health care
2008
Abstract We present an observational study that was conducted to guide the design of an enhanced collaboration platform to support distributed multidisciplinary team meetings between two hospitals. Our goal was to find out how the breast cancer multidisciplinary team collaborates in their face-to-face meetings and in their discussions using an existing video-conferencing system and to identify obstacles and issues to their primary tasks.
Teleconsultation for Medical Doctors
International Journal on Cybernetics & Informatics
This paper examines how impactful the implementation of teleconsultation is to a small medical clinic that struggles to manage its patients. To respond to this issue, the researchers created a responsive web-based teleconsultation and inventory system according to the client’s needs, in doing so, digitalizing their current system to stay relevant in today’s time. Through a survey conducted after the system was completed, users tested and determined the relevance and usability of the system. The results show that the system is working as intended, and it will be both a help and an innovation for the medical clinic it was created for. This study proves that, especially in these times of crisis, technological innovation is needed to assist in continuing the day-to-day processes of medical institutions for a sense of efficiency.