Problem: The goal of this activity is to analyze how collaboration, coordination, and communication are supported in video appointments/telemedicine/telepresence. During the pandemic, healthcare institutions made significant changes in how they see patients. Telemedicine, or video appointments, allows individuals to talk with a provider regardless of location if they have a reliable internet connection. Watch these two videos:
YouTube Video: Telemedicine | Johns Hopkins Medicine
YouTube Video: How to Conduct a Physical Exam Via Telemedicine
Answer the following questions:
1. Social issues
a. What are the goals of video appointments? The goals of video appointments are to save patients with low energy such as patients with ALS from having to come into the facility. Telemedicine helps patients that have mobility issues.
b. What kinds of conversations are supported?
c. What kinds of social protocols and conventions are used?
d. Does the mode of communication and interaction seem natural or awkward?
e. What information can a medical provider gather when using video appointments?
f. What types of information are difficult for a medical provider to gather when using video appointments?
g. What challenges to the doctor-patient relationship can occur when using video appointments?
h. What are the benefits of video appointments over voice-only phone calls?
i. What privacy issues can occur when using video appointments?
2. Interaction design