Browsing by Author "Williams, Michael L"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemSupport for the clinician in providing a regional telehealth service.(2007-09-05) Williams, Michael LHowever attractive the idea of telehealth may appear to them clinicians in regional hospitals will be preoccupied with clinical matters and are unlikely to have either the time or the expertise necessary to address the infrastructure and organizational aspects of establishing a telehealth service Our experience of telepaediatrics in Queensland has shown that the support of the central service and coordinator has been essential in overcoming initial difficulties and has freed us as clinicians to concentrate on appropriate clinical referrals and consultation via telehealth The central service is also able to assist in data collection and in the analysis and interpretation of telehealth activity for example in measuring cost effectiveness We have found that consolidating most consultations into planned clinics creates efficiency The central coordinator can teach and support those new to telehealth in the regional and primary care setting thus relieving the local clinician of this responsibility As telehealth services expand in a regional centre having a dedicated local telehealth coordinator may become appropriate A central telehealth support service which is clinically focused and responsive to clinicians needs is an essential foundation for successful telehealth
- ItemTeleconsultation from a secondary hospital for paediatric emergencies occurring at rural hospitals in Queensland.(2013-11-12) Desai, Sachin; Williams, Michael L; Smith, Anthony CWe reviewed telehealth consultations for acute paediatric patients presenting at rural sites in the Mackay district in 2012 Patient data and outcomes were collected prospectively and a survey of the referring clinicians was undertaken Thirty four patient consultations were conducted via telehealth with 14 referring clinicians Most of the referrals were for respiratory illnesses including bronchiolitis We received feedback surveys for 16 consultations 57 response rate In 47 of the cases the paediatric team felt that transfer was avoided by using teleconsultation In 80 of consultations the referring clinicians felt that video consultation was more effective than telephone alone In 30 of cases the referring clinicians felt that the patient would have been transferred to higher facility in the absence of the telehealth facility Clinicians thought that almost all consultations had educational value and reduced their anxiety in dealing with acute paediatric problems There were no adverse outcomes or delayed transfers of patients staying at their rural sites We recommend that telehealth consultation occur for all enquiries about acute paediatric patients at rural sites especially if transfer of the patient is being considered