BC TeleSteth Overview

1. BC TeleSteth Overview The tale of why and how BC implemented the 3M Littman electronic stethoscope for Telehealth Valerie Ashworth / Trent Horwood PHSA / VIHA vashworth@phsa.ca / trent.horwood@viha.ca

2. Solution Requirements • Quest for the stethoscope driven out of an Infoway funded TeleThoracic expansion • The ideal solution had to • Be interoperable between our 6 RHA’s • Provide clinically acceptable quality of sound • Provide live streaming of these sounds • Operate within known technical standards for security & privacy • Cause NO interference with other equipment • Be easy to use by clinicians • Come with a warranty and solid technical support

3. Solution Selection Process • A robust provincial procurement process was used to select the product. • Vendors treated equally • Required to submit substantial documentation • Product evaluation by RHA Telehealth and clinical staff • The 3M Littman product was the only product in the end that met all the requirements.

4. Solution Deployment • A provincial purchase contract was put in place. All RHA’s are able to place orders against this. • This enabled us to get better pricing through volume purchase. • As part of an Infoway initiative, RHA’s were able to receive some reimbursement for their spend. • Vancouver Island Health Authority is leading the way with implementation... (over to you, Trent….)

5. Solution Impact • The addition of the Electronic Stethoscope to the repertoire of Telehealth technologies has greatly enhanced the assessment capabilities of clinicians employing Telehealth in BC. • Using the Electronic Stethoscope, Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) created a new Telecardiology service, allowing cardiologists to assess clients with heart failure in multiple communities around the island.

6. Solution Impact • Benefits of the service are tracked using Client Satisfaction Surveys, as well as key metrics such as potential km travelled saved and green house gas emissions prevented. • In the first year of the Telecardiology service, over 70 consults were done, saving over 30,000 km of travel and nearly 8,000 tonnes of green house gas emissions, with many positive comments from clients and clinicians

7. Lessons Learned • Addition of technology changes workflows...it affects how clinicians do their day-to-day business • Testing is not the be-all / end-all. Prepare for bumps as the service expands and more people use it. • And when problems arise...and they will… • Have a robust Support Plan in place with: • A single point of contact for clinicians • An experienced team with varied expertise who know the contacts for any given situation

8. Road Map / Future Plans • Two main enhancements are under consideration: • Access for patients / clinicians who are outside of the RHA network • Enabling store and forward functionality • Can you say…. Privacy Impact Assessment???

9. Questions?

10. Contact info: Trent Horwood, BN RN Telehealth Nurse Leader Vancouver Island Health Authority, Centre for Telehealth, IM/IT trent.horwood@viha.ca Valerie Ashworth Program Manager, PHSA Telehealth vashworth@phsa.ca