TECHNOLOGY FEATURE
by eHealth – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), to help
our patients stay connected with their relatives. Within our ward
we embraced the opportunity of the iPads with open arms.
Jointly, with the activities co-ordinator on the ward, the
occupational therapists made contact with the patients’ relatives
to ask if they had access to digital technology and helped them
set up the Zoom app on their iPads or smartphones over the
telephone, if they needed assistance.
Ward staff were also trained in the use of the iPad to make
FaceTime or Zoom calls, if they were not already familiar with the
technology.
‘We set up a diary system to book calls in between patients
and their relatives, and a member of the ward staff facilitates the
call at the scheduled time,’ Kate says.
‘As the diary can be very busy some days, with calls back to
back in 30-minute time-slots, we agreed to share the load among
the full ward team – which includes occupational therapy staff,
an activity co-ordinator, physiotherapy staff, nurses, healthcare
support workers and nursing students – to ensure that it does not
always fall on the same individuals to facilitate the calls when they
still have their own duties to undertake.’
Interestingly, when staff were facilitating the video call sessions,
family members would often ask about their relative’s medical
status and progress, and so staff found themselves using the
video platforms to offer updates.
‘We have used the opportunity to allow families to observe
therapy sessions,’ Kate explains, ‘enabling them to observe their
relative’s mobility and transfers, and allowing them to see the
progress (or not) that the patient is making.
‘It has afforded them the opportunity to compare their relative’s
current presentation to their pre-admission baseline, which has
been helpful when discussing readiness for discharge.’
Kate adds: ‘We have used the video platforms to continue to
involve families in progress discussions with the multidisciplinary
team – including the consultant, nursing and occupational therapy
staff in one room, along with multiple family members in the same
Zoom discussion.’
‘Out-with my NHS role I also work within private practice and
remote assessments using video platforms is something that I had
already implemented and was familiar and confident with, so I ran
with the opportunity to make the most of the technology available
within the NHS.’ Kate says.
They use Zoom to undertake environmental visits, where the
camera is taken around the patient’s home to allow the therapist
to observe and assess the space, existing furniture and suitability
of the environment for the provision of both small aids and larger
pieces of moving and handling equipment.
‘I prepared the relatives on what to expect during the
assessment and I guided them on obtaining the specific
measurements I require, which takes an element of preparation for
the family member to ensure they have a measuring tape to hand
for the virtual visit. And often they like time to “tidy-up” before the
virtual assessment takes place,’ Kate exclaims.
OTnews June 2020 33