Authors (including presenting author) :
Edwin YH Chan1, Felix Tsui1, Yeni Chan1, YS Ng1, ML Chan1, BC Wong 1,Jun Liang1
Affiliation :
1Department of Family Medicine & Primacy Health Care, Community Care Division, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority
Introduction :
GOPCs were one of the main providers for the patients with chronic illnesses in the community. More than 60% of diabetic patients in Hospital Authority (HA) were managed in GOPCs. Apart from doctor consultation, multi-disciplinary care was in-cooperated chronic illnesses management. COVID-19 posed a great impact on the GOPC service. Under the fear of infectious outbreaks in the community, the number of attendance at GOPCs dropped significantly. Some of the non-essential clinical service e.g. nurse and allied health care were forced to shut down as well. Feasibility of telecare in GOPC setting was explored in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Objectives :
Develop the service model mechanism of telecare in GOPC, so patient can decrease frequency to attend GOPCs and offer alternatives to them.
Methodology :
For NTWC GOPCs, Zoom was chosen as a platform for telecare. Corporate HA account was used and with the assistance from information technology department to ensure the confidentiality and cyber safety issue . One day before the telecare, SMS of the meeting ID wound be send to the patient and nurse would confirm the readiness of device by phone. One hour before the session, patient would confirm again and password would be given by phone. The telecare service provided by NTWC GOPCs included insulin titration, risk assessment and management program for diabetic patients, nurse clinic service for diabetic, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients by nurses, psychological counseling by social worker for the integrated mental health program for patient with common mental disorders and doctor consultation for chronic illnesses with drug refill. In general, only known GOPC cases were recruited. Suitable patients would have training by clinic assistant and tele- cure card, which remind the important steps for telecare. Protocol, consultation format and training, which emphasized the importance of patient identification, patient consent and data privacy were provided to healthcare professional.
Result & Outcome :
From May to October 2020, 22095 patients, who were clinically stable, were invited telecare service, only 816 patients were recruited eventually. The low recruitment rate was due to lack of data plan for the patient, preference face to face consultation, unfamiliarity of ZOOM in general public, lack of knowledge and tools for new technology. The recruited patient had high satisfaction for the service. In conclusion, telecare was a contingency plan during Covid-19 pandemic for GOPCs patient but we had to improve the patient acceptability.
