A residential care home in Cumbria and a complex specialist centre in Nottinghamshire are testing an innovative telemedicine unit, allowing GPs to complete overall assessments on patients without leaving their practice.
The Teki-Hub, initially developed by Dr Stephen Katebe and Dr Omobolaji Iji to aid GP provision in remote areas, the technology is presently providing a solution to the additional risks of in-person consultations during this viral pandemic. It limits the rate at which clinicians visit care homes and residents’ need to visit healthcare facilities. Aside from improving patient safety, associated costs, including PPE, travel time and mileage, are reduced.
Developed by two GPs, the Teki-Hub telemedicine diagnostic solution has been adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and currently being adapted in 18 care homes in England and Scotland. This technological unit has high-quality diagnostic equipment, enabling GPs and other clinicians to do virtual care home rounds and respond immediately to emergencies efficiently and safely.
Teki-Hub telemedicine diagnostic can use WiFi, mobile or satellite networks to connect to GP practices, community services or hospitals, with home care staff administering tests directed by the clinician. It uses equipment such as a no-touch infrared basal thermometer, set of a digital stethoscope, otoscope and tongue depressor attachments, which allow GPs to conduct overall assessments of a patient’s respiratory, ear, nose and throat and heart health. The in-built video consultation platform enables clinicians and their patients to communicate freely, discuss test results, and agree on the next line of actions.
The MP for Copeland (including Millom), Trudy Harrison, said. “I am pleased that some care home residents in my constituency will be one of the first beneficiaries of remote diagnostics consultations with their GPs. Teki-Hub telemedicine diagnostic can reduce infection risk during a pandemic and deliver care to more patients rapidly. It is delightful to see more organizations trialling these technologies.”
With Teki-Hub’s availability on-site at the care home, doctors can make a thorough assessment based on each patient’s needs. GPs can effectively respond to potential emergencies outside of regular care home rounds. Initial experiments reveal this solution can reduce the need for ambulance callouts and hospital admissions due to emergency.
Since October 2020, Dr Graham Crippin from Colne Valley Practices in Kirklees has been using Teki-Hub for planned virtual ward rounds and ad hoc acute assessments.
Dr Graham said, “Examining a patient remains a critical part of clinical assessment. Teki-Hud solution provides the tools to implement remote consultation, which is similar to an in-person consultation.”
Advanced imaging reveals some examinations are clearer than viewing it with the naked eye, coupled with the option to record diagnostics to seek a second opinion where needed. It also includes full training and materials to clean the system after every assessment.
The Teki-Hub has conducted nearly 180 remote consultations till date. Initial evaluation conducted by NHS Arden & GEM CSU reveals that clinicians have been satisfied with audio and images quality, coupled with ease of system use. The average satisfaction score is 4.7/5.0 and over 90% patients who responded to a post-consultation survey associated with overall treatment experience chose excellent.
The co-founder of Tekihealth Solutions, Dr Stephen Katebe, said, “As GPs ourselves, we fully understand the barriers to providing swift and comprehensive care to care home residents – particularly during COVID-19. With Teki-Hub installed, clinicians can see up to six patients an hour, with no lost time spent travelling, and with reduced risk of contraction associated with in-person consultations. We have seen a significant increase in demand for pilots as NHS organizations look to enhance the quality and safety of care we can provide within pandemic – and financial – constraints.”
More different pilots are now taking place in care homes in Staffordshire, Coventry, London and Wolverhampton. GP practices in Cumbria use Teki-Hub as part of a managed GP solution, where Tekihealth offers remote consultations with qualified and experienced clinicians to localities with shortage of GP.
