Kathleen L Bagot1, Dominique A Cadilhac2, Michelle Vu3, Karen Moss3, Christopher F Bladin2. 1. Stroke Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Australia Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Australia kathleen.bagot@florey.edu.au. 2. Stroke Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Australia Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Australia. 3. Stroke Division, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine is a disruptive innovation within health care settings as consultations take place via audio-visual technology rather than traditional face-to-face. Specialist perceptions and experiences of providing audio-visual consultations in emergency situations, however, are not well understood. The aim of this exploratory study was to describe the experience of medical specialists providing acute stroke decision-making support via telemedicine. METHODS: Data from the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST) programme were used. The experiences of specialists providing an acute clinical telemedicine service to rural emergency departments were explored, drawing on disruptive innovation theory. Document analysis of programme consultation records, meeting minutes and in-depth individual interviews with three neurologists were analysed using triangulation. RESULTS: Since February 2014, 269 stroke telemedicine consultations with 12 neurologists have occurred. Retention on the roster has varied between 1 and >4 years. Overall, neurologists reported benefits of participation, as they were addressing health equity gaps for rural patients. Negative effects were the unpredictability of consultations impacting on their personal life, the mixed level of experience of colleagues initiating the consult and not knowing patient outcomes since follow-up communication was not routine. CONCLUSIONS: Insights into workforce experience and satisfaction were identified to inform strategies to support specialists to adapt to the disruptive innovation of telemedicine.
INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine is a disruptive innovation within health care settings as consultations take place via audio-visual technology rather than traditional face-to-face. Specialist perceptions and experiences of providing audio-visual consultations in emergency situations, however, are not well understood. The aim of this exploratory study was to describe the experience of medical specialists providing acute stroke decision-making support via telemedicine. METHODS: Data from the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST) programme were used. The experiences of specialists providing an acute clinical telemedicine service to rural emergency departments were explored, drawing on disruptive innovation theory. Document analysis of programme consultation records, meeting minutes and in-depth individual interviews with three neurologists were analysed using triangulation. RESULTS: Since February 2014, 269 stroke telemedicine consultations with 12 neurologists have occurred. Retention on the roster has varied between 1 and >4 years. Overall, neurologists reported benefits of participation, as they were addressing health equity gaps for rural patients. Negative effects were the unpredictability of consultations impacting on their personal life, the mixed level of experience of colleagues initiating the consult and not knowing patient outcomes since follow-up communication was not routine. CONCLUSIONS: Insights into workforce experience and satisfaction were identified to inform strategies to support specialists to adapt to the disruptive innovation of telemedicine.
Authors: Anthony C Smith; Emma Thomas; Centaine L Snoswell; Helen Haydon; Ateev Mehrotra; Jane Clemensen; Liam J Caffery Journal: J Telemed Telecare Date: 2020-03-20 Impact factor: 6.184
Authors: Kathleen L Bagot; Dominique A Cadilhac; Christopher F Bladin; Caroline L Watkins; Michelle Vu; Geoffrey A Donnan; Helen M Dewey; Hedley C A Emsley; D Paul Davies; Elaine Day; Gary A Ford; Christopher I Price; Carl R May; Alison S R McLoughlin; Josephine M E Gibson; Catherine E Lightbody Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-11-21 Impact factor: 2.655