1. Using Telehealthcare in the Voluntary Sector
Telehealth Champions
Using Telehealthcare in the Voluntary Sector
Andy Wynd
Chief Executive
Scottish Spina Bifida Association
Spring Meeting
March 2011

2. Context Scotland wide organisation
Supporting over 3000 children, young people and adults with spina bifida, hydrocephalus or related conditions
Wide range of services including
Helpline
Family Support, Parents and Children's Groups
Young Adult Groups
SEA Change Project - Befriending
Healthy Living and Self Management
Low incidence condition. National Specialist organisation

3. The Dan Young Building, Cumbernauld

4. Telehealth and Healthcare Suite
2 Tandberg Kits, one mobile using ISDN

5. What’s important for patients
Choice
Control
Independence

6. Embedding Telehealthcare into practice Don’t sell the kit - Sell the benefit
Starting from the patient’s perspective
What are the challenges
Most patients with spina bifida or hydrocephalus will have frequent contact with health professionals
Not everyone is comfortable with ICT.
How comfortable are patients in adapting to change in service delivery?
Specialist Paediatric Support and Intervention may be offered a considerable distance from patients home
Follow-up clinics require significant journey time
Clinical reviews can cause similar issues, if hospital based.

7. Taking it slowly
Trial a few patients and parents linking in to “known” consultants using the VC kit
Benbecula to DYG for spina bifida combined clinic review
DYB to Aberdeen for Urology review
Dumfries to DYB for Paediatric review
DYB to RHSC Glasgow for advice support

8. Learning from experience
The younger the patient, the more comfortable with technology
Picking up suggestions from patients to “push the boat out”
Can we use this technology from home?
Pilot indicated 1 to 2 minutes for children/families to fee comfortable with technology on live links

9. SCT Care at Home Project
Use of Laptop, HD camera and home broadband to offer a home based service
Pilot patient in Orkney and patient in Wigtown
Benefits not just in terms of travel but also reassurance to family. Pivotal in clinical decision making
Trialled with parents who were computer literate to iron out potential difficulties and test home broadband capabilities.

10. Some spin offs!
Use of Telehealthcare technology to improve quality of life.
Remote and rural worker using VC as a means of supporting young adults in a safe and secure environment.
Young adults in Aberdeen linking via VC to “join” the Youth Group at the DYB
Support and Supervision of remote and rural staff
Education and Training – Digital Stories
Use of SMS, Facebook, Twitter, secure forum on own website, Fitness Project uses video footage to reinforce exercises through individualised training programme for participants

11. Using Telehealthcare in the Voluntary Sector
Telehealth Champions
Using Telehealthcare in the Voluntary Sector
Andy Wynd
Chief Executive
Scottish Spina Bifida Association
Spring Meeting
March 2011