Digital Health

Key Message

Telehealth

Digital Health and Care (formally eHealth)

Technology is changing the ways in which we interact, deliver services and monitor health and well-being. It also plays a significant part in how we address the current and future challenges faced by healthcare. There are numerous benefits of the use of the technology in healthcare. Some of these are:

Patient access to healthcare support and information closer to their home
Professionals have the potential to reach and support more patients
Communication between services and service users in remote in rural setting is vastly improved

The effective practitioner has a responsibility to continually develop the knowledge and skills required to use and support the use of technology in healthcare. The effective practitioner can also acknowledge and utilise the potential that digital mechanisms have in sharing information and working collaboratively both locally and nationally.

To assist you in developing knowledge and skill on the national and local impact of digital health and care you may consider exploring some of the resources highlighted on this page.

What does this mean for the Effective Practitioner?

Technology is used more and more frequently within healthcare. Practitioners have a responsibility to continually develop the knowledge and skills required to use this technology as well as understand the principles of governance that support it's use. As a practitioner you need to be aware of the range of digital technologies that are being used in your own workplace. The effective practitioner is always considering the potential that technology offers in supporting patients/clients and allowing you to communicate more effectively with other practitioners locally and nationally.

You can download a copy of the Digital Health learning activities.

Return to top

Learning Activities
If you are involved in a teleconsultation – think about how to maintain the security and confidentiality of that environment and maximise the success of the consultation.
- Is there a possibility that someone will walk into the room?
- How can you maintain the dignity of the patient/client during the consultation?
- Are you able to use the telehealth device effectively? If not, where can you find out how to use the device?
- How are you planning to ensure data protection through the telehealth consultation?
- How do you ensure that you understand the patient and they understand using this form of communication.
- Are you able to explain to the patient what is going to happen next and carry out any instruction?
Record your learning in your professional portfolio.

Related KSF core dimensions: communication, personal and people development.
What do you think are the key benefits to using telehealth/care in terms of staff and the patient/service user?
- Look at your service user population. Are there opportunities where telehealth/care could be used, even simple use of technology such as text message to encourage attendance for appointments?
- Find out who you need to contact to share your ideas; what would be required and who will support you?
- How are you going to recruit your patients/clients and what criteria would you use to select your patients/clients?
- When you have received the appropriate backing, talk to your service users about the idea of using telehealth/care and recruit your service users.
- Gather feedback from your patients and discuss with your manager on how you can use this information to improve the services.
Record your learning in your professional portfolio.

Related KSF core dimensions: service improvement.
Consider using telehealth or telecare services with a patient who has a long term condition.
- Consider the ethical challenges that it might present.
- How will you assess the person’s ability to use the technology?
- Is it appropriate for the person to use it?
- Do they understand the benefits of using the technology?
- How can you address any concerns that they might have?
- How will you obtain informed consent?
- Who are the key people who would need to be involved?
- How will you assess the effectiveness of using this technology?
Record your learning in your professional portfolio.

Related KSF core dimensions: service improvement.

Return to top

Reflection

Remember, recording your reflections is an important part of the learning process. Take time to structure your thoughts, feelings and any future actions on one the forms available in the Reflective Practice section. Click here to visit the page.

In your reflections you could also consider how your learning relates to the Facilitation of Learning, Leadership and Evidence, Research and Development pillars of practice.

Return to top