In the second article of our Future of Digital Health Series for 2024: Digital health technologies, such as telehealth, are demonstrating numerous advantages in the implementation of collaborative care models. Despite some existing limitations, such as changes to reimbursements for patient-end support services, there are several features that healthcare providers can leverage through telehealth to deliver better collaborative outcomes.
Collaborative Care with Telehealth
The shift towards a collaborative effort involving multiple health providers, patients/clients, their families, caregivers, and communities to deliver high-quality care is considered the future of healthcare.
Collaborative care models, emphasising a team-based approach to healthcare, are increasingly benefiting from the use of telehealth solutions to improve the overall patient experience. Two key examples of how telehealth supports collaborative care models are outlined below.
1. Using group rooms for case conferencing
As telehealth transcends geographical limitations, allowing specialists and support members to connect easily regardless of their location, video conferencing using group rooms is seen to be an opportunity for improved collaborative care. Video case conferencing not only has the potential to improve the quality of care but also expands the range of expertise available to patients. In Coviu’s case study with UQ, a discussion was had about advancing collaborative care through case conferencing using telehealth. Platforms like Coviu, accommodating multiple participants in a single consultation, play a critical role in improving collaborative care.
2. Recorded sessions for collaborative review
Another primary advantage of telehealth to achieve greater collaboration between clients and clinicians is the ability to securely record therapy sessions. This feature means that clinicians and the client can review past sessions to gain insights into the client’s progress, leading to a more personalised and effective treatment plan. Where client consent is present, these recordings have the potential to also be viewed by practitioners working on the same case.
In Coviu’s case study with UQ, recorded sessions were discussed as a tool to train professionals under a collaborative model. Although not a common practice, recording consultations at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Online Health was explored as an audit tool and a way to achieve greater participation of all parties in an individual’s healthcare journey. Students explored the utility of recorded consultations, considering patient consent and privacy. Recorded sessions could benefit clients by aiding their recall of discussions or serving as valuable teaching resources, especially for students on placement or rural and remote GP upskilling.
Challenges for Collaborative Care Models
The pandemic initially improved healthcare access and online services but, in 2022, the Australian government's removal of patient-end support service reimbursements may have hindered some of the collaborative benefits of telehealth, particularly in psychiatry, affecting continuity of care and knowledge sharing.
The removal of patient-end support services is one challenge for some specialists to fully realise the benefits of telehealth under a collaborative care model. While there may be some other mechanisms to achieving collaboration between specialists under the current reimbursement schemes, these changes highlight how essential it is for the Australian government to prioritise healthcare principles, in making sure local clinicians are encouraged to embrace team care.
Telehealth is an Opportunity for Collaborative Care
Despite some limitations, telehealth, with its recorded sessions and case conferencing mechanisms, remains a crucial tool in advancing collaborative care. Further education and research in this area are vital for the continued improvement of collaborative care models.
Read more about the Future of Digital Health in our inaugural blog article for our 2024 series here.
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