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Outpatient appointment by video

Posted By Gryphon

"Outpatient appointment by video"

About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Immunology Department Fiona Stanley Hospital / Telehealth Services

(as a parent/guardian),

Last week my teenager had an immunology appointment at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Due to COVID19 restrictions, this was done by video. We inquired at the hospital and they were able to arrange for my teenager and I to call in from different places/devices. There was no travel required or parking costs, and when my phone dropped out, the IT people were very helpful re-connecting me.

An extra bonus was that the doctor's name was shown on the screen, which made it easy to remember to help with the re-connection. Although this doctor did introduce themselves, they don't always and I feel it can be hard to remember along with all the other information in an outpatient appointment.

Overall a great experience, and we hope video appointments can continue in the future.

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Responses

Response from Neil Doverty, Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group, South Metropolitan Health Service 3 years ago
Neil Doverty
Executive Director Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals Group,
South Metropolitan Health Service

Submitted on 10/06/2020 at 2:47 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 3:23 PM

picture of Neil Doverty

Dear Gryphon,

Thank you for sharing your positive feedback.

For many conditions, a diagnosis can be made from clinical history +/- investigations alone. These conditions do not require the physical presence of the patient in order to make an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate care. Indeed, requiring patients to attend may add significant logistical barriers to them being able to gain timely access to the care they need; as well as adding expense and inconvenience of having to attend hospital clinics.

After almost 5 months of operation of the Virtual Immunology Clinic during which over 550 outpatient occasions of service (including the review of over 400 new case referrals); surveys of the patient experience demonstrate this model of care is as effective in providing our patients with the care they need as attending our hospital Outpatient Clinic, and it provides this care in a more timely fashion.

The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the moves to implement this way of outpatient providing care across all specialties. While not the same as face to face consultations; for selected conditions and consultations, I am convinced telehealth will become the preferred mode of service delivery without compromising the standard of care provided.

Kind Regards,

Neil Doverty

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