Authors
- Kate Swetenham1,
- Jennifer Tieman2,
- Deidre Morgan2,
- David Currow2,
- Timothy To1
- Southern Adelaide Palliative Services1,
- Flinders University2
2014
Excerpt
Background: Most palliative care patients indicate that they would prefer to be cared for, and die, at home. Patients and caregivers can be managing complex end of life care needs at home relying on intermittent telephone and home visiting support from specialist palliative care teams. The Telehealth in Palliative Care project is investigating a change in service model utilising the capabilities offered by technology to enhance and facilitate communication, assessment and support within the constraints of a Monday to Friday service.
Aim: To implement and evaluate the impact of telehealth-based service provision on community based palliative care patients.
Methods: A prospective cohort study of a telehealth based intervention in palliative care patients and their carers compared with usual care. Participants receive a combined telecare and telemonitoring package via iPad tablet comprising:
• structured online video nursing contacts
• patient self-report using Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS), Assessment of
Quality of Life (AQoL) and Symptom Assessment Scale (SAS)
• carer self-report using the Southern Adelaide Palliative Services Carer Needs Assessment Tool
• trigger alerts based on the data entered,
• video based case conferences as required
Findings: The introduction of telehealth is providing an avenue for continuous monitoring of community patients and assists in the provision of needs based care within the constraints of a Monday-Fnday service. Patients and their caregivers report satisfaction with the use of the iPad. Direct admission to Hospice has been facilitated through a response to the patient alert thus avoiding an emergency department presentation.
Conclusion: The telehealth model is being extensively evaluated for consideration as a service model
to enhance the care currently available within the community home visiting palliative care model.
Conflict of Interest: Nil declared
Funding: Funding from the "NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program" Department of Health and Ageing, Commonwealth Government.
Aim: To implement and evaluate the impact of telehealth-based service provision on community based palliative care patients.
Methods: A prospective cohort study of a telehealth based intervention in palliative care patients and their carers compared with usual care. Participants receive a combined telecare and telemonitoring package via iPad tablet comprising:
• structured online video nursing contacts
• patient self-report using Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS), Assessment of
Quality of Life (AQoL) and Symptom Assessment Scale (SAS)
• carer self-report using the Southern Adelaide Palliative Services Carer Needs Assessment Tool
• trigger alerts based on the data entered,
• video based case conferences as required
Findings: The introduction of telehealth is providing an avenue for continuous monitoring of community patients and assists in the provision of needs based care within the constraints of a Monday-Fnday service. Patients and their caregivers report satisfaction with the use of the iPad. Direct admission to Hospice has been facilitated through a response to the patient alert thus avoiding an emergency department presentation.
Conclusion: The telehealth model is being extensively evaluated for consideration as a service model
to enhance the care currently available within the community home visiting palliative care model.
Conflict of Interest: Nil declared
Funding: Funding from the "NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program" Department of Health and Ageing, Commonwealth Government.