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Hospice staff attitudes towards telehospice
George Demiris1, Debra R Parker Oliver, David A Fleming
1Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|October 30, 2004
Summary
Hospice providers view telehospice positively, finding videophone technology enhances end-of-life care communication. They emphasize it complements, rather than replaces, in-person visits, while noting privacy and usability concerns.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Health Informatics
- Telehealth
Background:
- Telemedicine aims to overcome geographical barriers in healthcare delivery.
- Telehospice, an application of telemedicine, offers a novel approach to end-of-life care.
- Limited pilot studies exist on telehospice feasibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate hospice providers' perceptions of telehospice.
- To understand the potential benefits and challenges of integrating telehospice into practice.
Main Methods:
- A focus group discussion was conducted.
- Ten hospice staff members (administrators, nurses, social workers) from five agencies participated.
- Qualitative data on perceptions of telehospice were collected.
Main Results:
- Providers generally held positive perceptions of telehospice.
- Videophone technology was seen as a valuable tool for enhancing communication between providers, patients, and families.
- Participants stressed that telehospice should supplement, not replace, in-person visits.
Conclusions:
- Telehospice is perceived as a beneficial adjunct to traditional hospice care.
- Addressing privacy and usability concerns is crucial for successful telehospice implementation.
- Further research into telehospice integration and its impact on quality of care is warranted.