2. Digital consultations

Different words can be used to describe a clinical interaction between a health professional and a service user that does not take place in-person.

What words would you use to describe these kind of consultations?
Select the buttons below to discover more.

Definition of Remote Call: A remote digital consultation is a virtual meeting or interaction between a healthcare provider and a patient, facilitated through digital technology, such as video calls, telemedicine platforms, or mobile apps, to assess, diagnose, and discuss medical conditions, provide treatment recommendations, and offer medical advice without the need for in-person contact.

This definition includes consultations that may be linked to all aspects of care, including remote monitoring systems and, ideally, electronic record systems.

Definition of a Virtual Call: A virtual call is a communication session conducted over the internet or a computer network using audio and/or video, enabling individuals or groups to connect and converse in real-time without being physically present in the same location.

This definition includes consultations that may be linked to all aspects of care, including remote monitoring systems and, ideally, electronic record systems.

Definition of Phone Call: A phone call as part of a digital consultation is a telephonic conversation between a healthcare provider and a patient, integrated into a remote digital consultation, allowing for real-time communication, assessment, and medical discussions using traditional phone technology within a digital healthcare framework.

This definition includes consultations that may be linked to all aspects of care, including remote monitoring systems and, ideally, electronic record systems.

Definition of Video Call: A video call as part of a digital consultation is a virtual, real-time interaction between a healthcare provider and a patient through video-enabled technology within a remote digital consultation setting, allowing for visual communication, medical assessments, and discussions of health concerns without the need for physical presence.

This definition includes consultations that may be linked to all aspects of care, including remote monitoring systems and, ideally, electronic record systems.

Definition of a Simple Messaging Platform (WhatsApp) Call: A WhatsApp call as part of a digital consultation is a telephonic or video communication within the WhatsApp messaging platform, used for remote healthcare consultations. It enables healthcare providers to engage in real-time discussions, assessments, and advice with patients through WhatsApp, offering a convenient and familiar digital healthcare solution.

This definition includes consultations that may be linked to all aspects of care, including remote monitoring systems and, ideally, electronic record systems.

Definition of Text Messages as part of a call: Text messages as part of a digital consultation involve the exchange of written messages via text within a digital healthcare framework. Healthcare providers and patients communicate asynchronously through text, allowing for medical discussions, sharing of information, and receiving advice and guidance via written conversation.

This definition includes consultations that may be linked to all aspects of care, including remote monitoring systems and, ideally, electronic record systems.

As you can see there are many different possible types of digital interaction!

The term 'digital clinical consultation' encompasses all these modes of digital interaction in a clinical setting and is defined as: "a real-time telephone or video consultation involving direct interaction between a service user and a maternity healthcare professional. It has two-way functionality and can be initiated by either party. It may be linked to, or complemented by, other digital technologies within the maternity care pathways".

Reflective Activity

Thinking about your previous experience with digital clinical consultations, please answer the questions below. (They will be added to a certificate of completion which you can access at the end of this resource).

You have not given permission for the use of Cookies and Local Storage which would allow you to store your response to this activity. To grant permission for the use of Cookies and Local Storage within the "User Privacy Settings" (also available within the resource "menu" panel).

Consider the last time that you made a phone or video call to a service user. Did you consider the interaction to be a 'consultation'? In what ways, if any, did you prepare for the call? What were the key factors that you considered?

By pressing the Delete button below you can remove your stored response.

By pressing the Reset Data button below you can restart this activity. Importantly all stored responses will be deleted.