Questionnaire on RCN web content for Telehealth and Telecare

The RCN has resolved to provide web-based information on Telehealth and Telecare. Telehealth is a broad term describing the delivery of health-related services and information via information and communications technologies. Examples include sending images for diagnosis, videoconferencing to discuss a diagnosis, providing health advice by telephone or transmitting physiological data for disease management. Telecare is the use of devices in the home environment to monitor for changes that might be detrimental. Examples of telecare devices include falls sensors, smoke alarms or medication reminder systems, that might warn clients themselves or raise an alert at a control centre. As telehealth and telecare encompass also preventive aspects of health and social care, they are particularly relevant to nursing. The purpose of this questionnaire is to determine the purpose, structure and content of relevant RCN web pages. A. Please give your opinion about the potential audience for the web pages and about the role of the RCN in relation to telehealth and telecare: Why should the RCN provide web pages on telehealth and telecare?

Who is the target audience for the web pages?

What will they use the web pages for?

What should be the wider role of the RCN in relation to telehealth and telecare?

B. Please indicate the information that you think should be included in the web pages Remote interaction between nurses i.e. tele-consultation e.g. a district nurse seeking advice via video from a tissue viability nurse

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Remote interaction between nurses and clients i.e. tele-encounter e.g. a client seeking advice via telephone from a service such as NHS Direct

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Remote access (for patients) to health records and educational materials e.g. via HealthSpace

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Remote physiological monitoring e.g. BP, heart rate, ECG, blood glucose movement tracking

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Remote environmental monitoring i.e. telecare e.g. use of a falls sensor to send an alert to a control centre

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Ethical and policy issues around telehealth and telecare e.g. security and confidentiality, consent, malpractice

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Storing images or results and sending them electronically for interpretation i.e. store and forward technology e.g. capturing ultrasound scan data for interpretation remotely by a dermatologist

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Application of telehealth in particular medical specialties e.g. dermatology, cardiology, mental health, rehabilitation, emergency medicine

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Clinical guidance e.g. capturing images of skin conditions

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Operational guidance e.g. best practice for email communication with clients

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Technical guidance e.g. telecommunications requirements

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Setting up a telehealth or telecare intervention or programme

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Patient selection for telehealth or telecare

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Training needs for practitioners and patients

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

Impact of telehealth or telecare on nursing practice

Not needed  Not important  Important  Essential

C. Please indicate which resources might be useful to visitors of the web pages. Note that one of the goals should be to mobilise expertise (Select all that apply)

Blog  Wiki  Mailing list  Video clips  Teaching and learning materials  Links to other resources (please specify)

D. Do you have any further comments?