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FEATURE

Telehealth Practice Management

Main Point: practitioner must ensure that all
these requirements are met. GoodX
Telehealth has become a fantastic Software assists practitioners to
means to assist patients throughout comply with these rules.
the Covid-19 lockdowns and beyond.
This article reminds Practitioners The diversified purpose of Telehealth
about the diverse purposes, has become to promote healthcare to:
requirements and benefits of
Telehealth. 1. Patients in underdeveloped areas,
2. Patients at risk to the practice
Article Body: (e.g. Covid-19),
3. Patients who cannot travel, e.g.
The original objective of Telehealth frail patients,
as established by the National as a remote consultation between 4. Patients who urgently need
Department of Health was to: a practitioner and patient via assistance without placing an
telephone or virtual platform. The extra burden on ER facilities,
1. deliver healthcare services at HPCSA expanded the application 5. Patients who live too far from a
a distance to South African scope to include patients who do Practitioner, effectively eliminating
communities in under-served not have an existing practitioner- the barriers of geographical
areas, patient relationship. distances,
2. to alleviate the human resource 6. Patients have become aware
crisis as experienced, and The HPCSA expressly referred of the immense benefits of
3. to improve the links and practitioners to ethical Rule 27A, Telehealth, and we suggest that
communication between which are the primary duties of Telehealth in its new form is here
developed healthcare facilities and healthcare practitioners. Here to stay and that practitioners
the underdeveloped rural areas. follow the sub-rules that specifically will do well to become more
pertain to Telehealth: acquainted with this form of
On 26 March 2020, the HPCSA healthcare.
issued their first letter to practitioners • Sub-rule (a) states that a
after the government announced the practitioner shall at all times The benefits of Telehealth are
National State of Disaster following act in the best interests of numerous and include the following:
the rise in reported Covid-19 cases in their patients; (This is the
South Africa. overarching rule when it comes 1. There is less chance of catching
to healthcare. All actions will be new illnesses by keeping social
The two main measures implemented measured based on this rule.); distancing from other patients,
by the government to limit the spread • Subrule (b) states that a 2. It increases the practice’s
of the disease are: practitioner shall respect patient efficiency to assist a broader
confidentiality, privacy, choices base of patients,
1. social distancing to prevent and dignity; 3. Patients with limited mobility have
infection and • Subrule (f) states that a better access to healthcare, e.g.
2. self-isolation by those infected by practitioner shall maintain frail patients,
the disease. proper and effective 4. The whole consultation process
communication with is quicker for patients who, e.g.
Medical practitioners provide essential their patients and other don’t have to travel,
services to the community. As such, professionals; 5. It is cost-effective, seeing
the HPCSA urged practitioners to • Subrule (g) states that a that patients can engage in
continue providing medical services practitioner shall, except in an Telehealth rather than go to an
with reasonable skill and competency emergency, obtain informed emergency room for no good
while also keeping the safety of their consent from a patient or, reason,
patients and themselves in mind. if the patient is unable to 6. Allows multiple team members to
To ensure the safety of patients, provide consent for treatment interact and collaborate in patient
Telehealth was introduced as a means themselves, from their next of care, e.g. specialists.
to assist with social distancing without kin; and
compromising on good healthcare • Subrule (h) states that a GoodX Courses presents an
services. Telehealth should only practitioner shall keep accurate accredited online CPD course to train
be used if it is in the patient’s best patient records. Practitioners and Supporting Staff
interest. members to implement Telehealth in
When choosing a platform for their practices effectively. For more
The HPCSA has defined Telehealth Telehealth consultations, the information, see courses.goodx.co.za.

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