Video Supported Collaboration in Healthcare

                             Bård Eirik Kulseng1,2, Morten Jensvold3
                 1
                   Obesity Centre, St Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
     2
         Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
                             3
                               Ørlandet Legesenter, Brekstad, Norway

          Abstract. Apprenticeship is a traditional way of working and learning in
          healthcare. Information and knowledge transfer is distributed through informal
          and/or formal ways. The local ”know-how” is distributed to new and old
          colleagues and provide constant learning among the health care professionals. In
          this constellation, patients may perceive a greater trust where one healthcare
          worker’s limitations can be bridged by a more experienced colleague in that
          particular field.

          The organisation of healthcare in Norway today is characterized by two levels
          of health care delivery. Primary (level of GPs) and secondary care (level of
          consultants). Distance, means of communication and traditions has limited the
          access for information exchange between the levels. One result has been a
          higher number of patients being referred to specialist care, and less emphasis on
          the apprenticeship partnership within the chain of healthcare workers.

          In 2009, health care delivery was revised and a closer collaboration between
          primary and secondary healthcare was advocated by the government. One mean
          for collaboration was to be supported by ICT. Within this context, a structured
          collaboration between primary and secondary health care providers was formed
          within the context of diabetes care. The collaboration was formed by
          communication between a consultant who was giving advice on complicated
          patients to a GP or a consultant supporting the communication between a GP
          and the patient. The communication was performed without physical proximity
          between primary and secondary health care providers but by means of video
          conference.

          Results: Private economy benefited from this project. The cost for
          transportation, time spent travelling and charge for doctor’s appointment was
          reduced.

          Consultant: Was able to solve problems directly during discussion with the GP
          and patient and reduced this way the number of patients referred to his practice.

          GP: Benefited from the knowledge transfer and support from a more
          experienced in the field. The collaboration reduced the number of patients
          referred to secondary care and enabled him to solve more complicated problems
          locally.




Copyright © 2014 by the paper's authors. Copying permitted for private and academic purposes.

In: E.A.A. Jaatun, E. Brooks, K.E. Berntsen, H. Gilstad, M. G. Jaatun (eds.):
Proceedings of the 2nd European Workshop on Practical Aspects of Health Informatics
(PAHI 2014), Trondheim Norway, 19-MAY-2014, published at http://ceur-ws.org
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