Telehealth eHealth and Social Media modules

1. TeleHealth Module

Access Module

This module is primarily aimed at clinicians and practice managers who organize, participate or facilitate the patient end of the telehealth consultation.  It explores the clinical contextual and technical considerations relevant to implementing telehealth services according to ACRRM  Standards.

While the case studies feature rural and remote general practice, rural aged care, and the operational arrangements which relate to the Australian Government’s MBS telehealth initiative, the module is relevant to all general practitioners, practice managers, and other clinical staff involved in organizing or providing telehealth services.

It features a series of case studies including a rural GP and his patients and an orthopaedic surgeon.

This footage was shot at Bright in Victoria with Dr Paul Duff and simultaneously in Wangaratta with Dr Michael Falkenberg.

It features a real telehealth consultation with a consenting patient

ACRRM has also sought to be involved in the broader eHealth agenda to ensure that consideration of the issues for rural and remote patients and practice was considered. Obtaining funding to actively participate in the arena has been difficult ( despite our clear success in supporting rational use of telehealth).

However, ACRRM has been developing resources to assist members examining the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of a broader range of eHealth methods, system and products.

2. Making eHealth Work for your General Practice

Access Module

ACRRM and the RACGP have collaborated to develop education  which provides information  and resources relevant to the integration of a range of eHealth technologies  within the General Practice

This activity has been created for general practitioners (GPs) and general practice registrars (GPRs) to understand how e-health has a key role in health care delivery. It is designed to show how e-health is affecting the way we provide healthcare.

It explores  how changes in gathering, storing, using and sharing patient information can create better individual and population health outcomes. It explores how these changes can affect the business of general practice and the patient-doctor relationship.

Topics include:

• Using social media to enhance practice e.g. Facebook, Twitter
• Electronic health records e.g. PCEHR
• Online health information for patients and clinicians e.g. Dr Google, decision support
• Data management e.g. coding and cleansing
• Telehealth
• PIP ehealth incentive
• ePrescribing, eDischarge summaries
• Selecting & troubleshooting ehealth technology
• Privacy, security and confidentiality
• Business case and workflow

The module follows the structure of the ACRRM Framework for telehealth standards and the ACRRM Telehealth Module and is organised into clinical, technical and contextual aspects of ehealth, and features case studies, scenarios, interactions and resources that are relevant to both urban and rural/remote practice

3. Social Media for Rural Doctors. (coming soon)

This short module will also be organised into the three domains of the ACRRM Standards Framework and will provide more in detail and practical examples regarding use of SoMe (Social Media).

• Clinical- accessing up-to-date clinical information, participating in clinical education, - e.g. journal clubs , conferences, providing clinical education to patients etc
• Technical- Devices used to access SoMe, Types of SoMe, performance, risk management, utility- how to get started and manage information and groups
• Contextual- examples of use with in rural generalist practice, within health service organisations, and systems and communities of interest. This will cover professional responsibility and standards