Clinical Triaging Considerations for Telehealth
Patients appropriate for Telehealth[edit | edit source]
This can be determined from case to case based on a number of factors using
- Clinical judgement
- Patient informed decision making
- Professional standards of care
Triaging[edit | edit source]
If the patient has access to the available technologies then the following triaging should be considered to determine appropriateness.
● The patient’s clinical condition or presentation/ diagnosis[edit | edit source]
● The severity of the condition, pain, neurological deficits, or severe shortness of breath, how would this impact your decision
● Potential or actual red flags.
● The urgency to access care. Post-operative condition vs non-specific chronic low back pain.
● Age of patient
● Presence of other comorbidities or psychological factors
● Mobility of the patient, physical risk
● Language barriers
● Cognition - ability to provide consent and follow instructions
● What time point of patient care, assessment, review, treatment. Hybrid model is available, depending on the condition and the patient.
● Patient’s physical location. Their house, friend, GP practice. Geographical location and influence of internet connection barriers.
● Who is present during the consult. Advantage: assistance with tests, or supervision. Disadvantage: privacy and confidentiality. Privacy of the patient if you need to visualise areas of the patient’s body. Is it appropriate to ask about certain conditions with someone in the room.
● Therapist skill to translate it to telehealth.
● Ability to modify tests, ruling out red flags, do you need a local healthcare professional with the patient.
● Scope of practice and registration within your state or country
- Reimbursement for telehealth from the patient’s medical insurance or government insurance like medicare.
