Abstract
The objective of the study was to measure implementation of telehealth for client consultations from Allied Health and Community Health clinicians' perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Purposeful sampling was used to invite allied and community health clinicians to complete the survey. An online survey design, underpinned by normalisation process theory, utilising the NoMAD tool, which consists of 19 implementation assessment items. Descriptive statistics are reported. A 66% (n =24) response rate was obtained. Fifty-two percent indicated they were using telehealth for the first time. Despite the rapid implementation of telehealth for client consultations due to the pandemic crisis, participants reported positive perceptions of the use of telehealth when measured using the NoMAD. Fifty-eight percent (n =14) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that telehealth will become a normal part of their work. Despite unplanned and under-resourced implementation of telehealth, Allied Health and Community Health clinicians reported very positive perceptions. However, further education and training to ensure 'normalisation' of this model may be required.
Highlights
In March 2020, the Australian Federal Government and all State Governments introduced widespread social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Allied Health, included those who described their roles as dietician, physiotherapist, health promotion, allied health or occupational therapists and Community Health included respondents who described their role as primary health care nurse, chronic disease educator, mental health clinician, social worker, palliative care, case manager
Eleven (46%) respondents identified as Allied Health clinicians and 13 (54%) as clinicians working in Community Health
Summary
In March 2020, the Australian Federal Government and all State Governments introduced widespread social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health services across the state of Victoria introduced measures to protect staff and their clients from exposure to people who were potentially infected. Telehealth, video conferencing for health consultations, became the preferred method for health consultations for all clinical disciplines to replace face-to-face consultations. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid implementation of telehealth and other forms of tele-conferencing for first time users of the technology. In early March 2020, new telehealth items were added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for primary care, and their use quickly escalated (Duckett 2020), with over 4 million telehealth consultations by mid-April (Australian Healthcare Week Digital 2020)
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