Near or far? Ensure virtual consult maintains standard of patient care

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Near or far? Ensure virtual consult maintains standard of patient care

Gaeline Phipps

Gaeline Phipps

Women and child Telehealth
Patients trying to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 may prefer virtual consultations [Image: Helena Lopes on Unsplash]

Wellington barrister Gaeline Phipps discusses your responsibilities when providing care at a distance, because even when the challenges of COVID-19 are behind us, many patients will still prefer virtual consultations

Key points, Patient satisfaction with telehealth is high, but having a pre-existing relationship and quality technology improves the experience. Choose the righ, Pract Green w Pale Yellow
References

1. Medical Council of New Zealand. Safe practice in an environment of resource limitation. September 2018. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/standards/ca25302789/Safe-practice-in-an-environment-of-resource-limitation.pdf

2. Medical Council of New Zealand. Telehealth. October 2020. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/standards/c1a69ec6b5/Statement-on-telehealth.pdf

3. Curtis M, Duncan R, Jing M, et al. “Not a perfect situation, but...” A single-practice survey of patient experience of phone consultations during COVID-19 Alert Level 4 in New Zealand. N Z Med J 2021;134(1544):35–48.

4. Gilbert AW, Mentzakis E, May CR, et al. Patient preferences for use of virtual consultations in an orthopaedic rehabilitation setting: Results from a discrete choice experiment. J Health Serv Res Policy 2022 Jan;27(1):62–73.

5. Quinn LM, Davies MJ, Hadjiconstantinou M. Virtual consultations and the role of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic for people with type 2 diabetes: The UK perspective. J Med Internet Res 2020;22(8):e21609.