Selecting hardware to meet clinical needs

When selecting hardware and equipment, this should be guided by the most appropriate hardware to meet clinical workflow requirements and consumer needs.

The clinical workflow should not be altered to accommodate hardware and software functionality.

Instead, select equipment with the capabilities to meet clinical requirements and maximise the support offered.

Below is a range of equipment requirements for clinical videoconferencing with different consumer cohorts and settings, including examples of use.

Minimum equipment requirements

  • PC or laptop
  • Stable internet connection
  • Up-to-date computer software
  • Web cam (inbuilt or USB)
  • Speaker and microphone, or headset

Additional equipment to optimise the experience

  • Dual screens
  • Videoconferencing endpoint

Use cases

  • A medical specialist working in an outpatient clinic and conducting a review with a consumer located at home.
  • An allied health clinician conducting a home assessment with the consumer and their carer.
  • An aged care nurse connecting to a residential aged care facility to conduct a consumer review following discharge.
  • A resident of an aged care facility having a physiotherapy session following surgery.
  • An allied health clinician conducting a group session with multiple consumers located in their individual homes.
  • A clinician in a correctional facility assisting a consumer (inmate) to connect to a specialty service.
  • A lactation specialist conducting a one-on-one session or a group education session with new mothers.
  • A clinician conducting a video call with a consumer, family member and/or carer who are all located remotely.
  • A community health nurse in a consumer's home connecting them back to a specialist provider at the local hospital.
  • A paramedic supporting a mental health assessment from a consumer’s home to a mental health clinician.
  • Multidisciplinary team meetings and consultations.

Minimum equipment requirements

  • Mobile workstation, i.e. computer on wheels or tablet
  • Stable internet connection
  • Up-to-date computer software that enables audiovisual link
  • Web cam (inbuilt or USB)
  • Speaker and microphone, or headset
  • Camera with pan-tilt-zoom capability
  • Dual screens
  • Ability for remote-end clinicians to operate camera

Additional equipment to optimise the experience

  • Virtual diagnostic or imaging machine
  • Videoconferencing endpoint

Use cases

  • A rural emergency department clinician is with a consumer, conducting a virtual consultation with a specialist in another hospital.
  • A critical care clinician conducting a video call to prepare the receiving ward before transferring a consumer.
  • A clinician conducting a video call from the consumer’s bedside to a medical specialist in another hospital.
  • A surgical ward staff member conducting a pre-operative pre-admission check via video call with a consumer at home.
  • Planning discharge from an inpatient ward with the clinician and the consumer, connecting with the primary care provider and the consumer’s family.
  • A hospital in the home (HiTH) clinician using a video call to supervise a consumer administer medication while they are at home.
  • Multidisciplinary team meetings and consultations.

Minimum equipment requirements

  • Smartphone, tablet or laptop (optimal)
  • Stable internet connection and data plan (a mobile router may be needed to enhance connectivity)
  • Up-to-date computer software
  • Speaker and microphone, or headset

Use cases

  • A clinician in a residential aged care facility connecting to a hospital emergency department.
  • A social worker supporting a consumer in an affiliated health organisation to connect to a specialty service.
  • A police officer or a paramedic supporting a mental health assessment from a consumer’s home to a mental health clinician.
  • An Aboriginal health practitioner or worker supporting a consumer to connect from an Aboriginal medical service to a specialty service.
  • An Aboriginal health practitioner supporting a pre-admission clinic in partnership with the consumer’s GP from the primary care practice.
  • A clinician and consumer located in an open space (garden, riverbank, seaside) to access a specialty service.

Technology is a key enabler of multidisciplinary reviews and case conferencing. Participants can be co-located across a facility or multiple facilities and locations.

Case conference participants can include health (including the consumer’s primary care provider), social or educational providers and where appropriate, the health consumer, their family and carers.

The capability requirements of the platform will need to be determined, such as the ability to share images, high-quality render of image, sound with video, recording, transcript and attendee list.

Consult your virtual care manager or lead to determine the most appropriate hardware. This is because virtual case conference models require strong partnerships, and may need funding and coordination across sites.

The use of virtual reality in virtual care is an emerging area supporting healthcare and education in NSW Health.

For example, virtual reality devices have been incorporated into the treatment of chronic pain. Guiding the consumer through calming virtual surrounds, providing instruction on mindfulness, and assisting cognitive behavioural therapy have improved health outcomes. Virtual reality supports pain reduction strategies by reducing stress, anxiety, fear, and depression while distracting the brain from receiving pain signals.

For recommendations in scoping virtual reality technology and opportunities, consult your virtual care manager or lead.

With technology advancements, the hardware available for NSW Ambulance and retrieval services is constantly evolving. If your service requires assistance with connecting to NSW Ambulance or retrieval services to support clinical escalation pathways, consult your virtual care manager or lead.

Every consumer will have access to different devices, depending on their needs. In the development of new services, it is important to consider the consumer devices required to support access.

It is reasonable to expect that consumers may have access to a phone or mobile phone but it may not be a smartphone. Your virtual care manager or lead can provide guidance on compatible devices, if required.

Additionally, remote monitoring services shouldn’t expect that all consumers have access to required devices. Provision of specialised hardware may be required, and costs associated should be factored in.

Critical Care Overbed Network

The Critical Care Overbed Network (CCON) is a custom-built secure web portal managed by eHealth NSW, which provides higher quality images and video stream. It is robust, easy to use and intuitive.

    Critical care overbed cameras enable immediate, round-the-clock access to specialist advice to help local clinicians determine the best way to manage a consumer’s care.

    Relevant specialists, located offsite, are able to access the panoramic cameras remotely through the CCON to:

    • view live stream
    • control the camera
    • take screenshots
    • access cameras across multiple local health districts/specialty health networks.

    The CCON enables a consistent approach across NSW Health.

    Your virtual care manager or lead can provide further information on CCON.

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