Telemedicine is a 24/7 secure video enabled service which you can use to get clinical advice and a remote assessment if you suspect a decline in a resident’s health or a change in their condition.
You can initiate a video consultation using a laptop provided by Immedicare any time of day or night – any time you feel something isn’t quite right with your resident – you know them best.
Examples of when you might wish to call include:
- falls, slips, trips
- suspected UTI’s or chest infections
- wound care
- breathing difficulties
- pain management
- skin complaints including localised infection or swelling
- assistance in verifying an expected death of a resident
- medication advice
- general deterioration
- behavioural changes
- general pain management.
Telemedicine is not an emergency service – if you have an emergency you must still ring 999. But once you have rung 999, you can contact Immedicare for extra support while you wait for an ambulance to arrive, with a clinician providing guidance and support via video call.
The aims of Telemedicine are to:
- support care homes to make joint decisions, which result (where possible) in residents staying in their own home and being cared for by someone they know
- provide ongoing support, assessment and reassurance for staff and the resident
- co-ordinate care and referrals with the other health care professionals
- reduce avoidable GP call-outs, 111 calls, and ambulance or A+E visits
- help homes get faster access to a clinical assessment (4 minute answer time on average)
Once you have initiated a consultation and provided the relevant information the telemedicine clinician then takes full responsibility – they will make onward referrals such as to a community nurse, GP or ambulance.
To find out more about telemedicine or request a leaflet, please contact Jill Stevenson at Immedicare: 01925 918240 / 07947 187914 / JStevenson@Immedicare.co.uk
Providers who already use telemedicine. Please remember to:
- keep the telemedicine laptop turned on and charged
- restarted the laptop once a week
- store the laptop in a prominent place that all staff have easy access to
- train all staff on using the laptop (Immedicare can support with training and information, just get in touch at the details above)
- cascade this information to all staff including night staff, permanent and temporary
- think Immedicare if you are worried about a resident and need support, or have a question you can’t answer.
