During the pandemic, hospitals responded quickly to the need for safe, effective patient care by adopting virtual telehealth solutions. Dr. Talbot “Mac” McCormick discusses the long-term impact of the pandemic on the acceptance of remote care by hospitals and patients across the country.
Telehealth Job Applicants Want to Know: What’s it Like to Interact During Virtual Telehealth Using a Robot?
When we interview doctors for telehealth jobs, one of the most common questions is: What’s it Like to Interact During Virtual Telehealth Using a Robot?
The short answer is that performing a history and physical (H&P) exam using a robot is very similar to in-person H&Ps. Onsite staff receive training on how to inform the patient about what will happen during a telemedicine visit and the nurse is on-hand to support the patient and the remote physician during the clinical evaluation.
Before you accept a telehealth job, you want to know you will be comfortable caring for patients via technology. Let’s walk through the process.
Step 1: Bringing a Robot to the Patient
After the nurse coordinates with the telemedicine provider to determine that a patient needs a consult, the nurse moves the cart into the patient’s room. The nurse tells the patient that a remote physician will be performing an exam and answers any questions the patient may have about telemedicine.
Then, the nurse opens the telemedicine video application, connects the electronic stethoscope (eStethoscope) and positions the cart at the end of the patient’s bed. The video connects using the hospital’s secure Wi-Fi connection and a secure video application. Within an instant, the remote provider appears on the screen.
