Development and Implementation of a Methodology for Quality Assessment of Asynchronous Teleconsultations

Sensor, Wearable, and Remote Patient Monitoring Competencies for Clinical Care and Training: Scoping Review

Sensor, wearable, and remote patient monitoring technologies are typically used in conjunction with video and/or in-person care for a variety of interventions and care outcomes. This scoping review identifies clinical skills (i.e., competencies) needed to ensure quality care and approaches for organizations to implement and evaluate these technologies. The literature search focused on four concept areas: (1) competencies; (2) sensors, wearables, and remote patient monitoring; (3) mobile, asynchronous, and synchronous technologies; and (4) behavioral health. From 2846 potential references, two authors assessed abstracts for 2828 and, full text for 521, with 111 papers directly relevant to the concept areas. These new technologies integrate health, lifestyle, and clinical care, and they contextually change the culture of care and training-with more time for engagement, continuity of experience, and dynamic data for decision-making for both patients and clinicians. This poses challenges for users (e.g., keeping up, education/training, skills) and healthcare organizations. Based on the clinical studies and informed by clinical informatics, video, social media, and mobile health, a framework of competencies is proposed with three learner levels (novice/advanced beginner, competent/proficient, advanced/expert). Examples are provided to apply the competencies to care, and suggestions are offered on curricular methodologies, faculty development, and institutional practices (e-culture, professionalism, change). Some academic health centers and health systems may naturally assume that clinicians and systems are adapting, but clinical, technological, and administrative workflow-much less skill development-lags. Competencies need to be discrete, measurable, implemented, and evaluated to ensure the quality of care and integrate missions.

A Literature Review Comparing Clinicians' Approaches and Skills to In-Person, Synchronous, and Asynchronous Care: Moving Toward Competencies to Ensure Quality Care

Introduction: Research is increasing on asynchronous technologies used by specialist clinicians and primary care, including e-mail, text, e-consultation, and store-and-forward (asynchronous) options. Studies typically describe interventions and care outcomes rather than development of clinical skills for using technology. Methods: This article attempts to compare clinicians' approaches to, and skills for, asynchronous technologies versus in-person and synchronous (i.e., video) care. Literature from technology, health care, pedagogy, and business were searched from 2000 to 2019 for title words, including synchronous (e.g., video, telemental or behavioral health, telepsychiatry), asynchronous (e.g., app, e-consultation, e-mail, text, sensor in a wearable device), education, clinical, and consultation. Results: From a total of 4,812 potential references, two authors (D.M.H., J.T.) found 4,622 eligible for full text review and found 381 articles directly relevant to the concept areas in combination for full text review. However, exclusion criteria subtracted 305, leaving a total of 76 articles. While in-person and synchronous care are similar in many ways, the clinical approach to asynchronous care has many differences. As asynchronous technologies and models of care are feasible and effective, often for consultation, an outline of patient, primary care provider, and specialist clinician goals and skills are presented. Few studies specifically discuss skills or competencies for asynchronous care, but components from published clinical informatics, video, social media, and mobile health competencies were organized into Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education domains. Conclusions: Further implementation of science research is needed for asynchronous technology interventions, as well as clinician competencies using asynchronous technologies, to ensure optimal outcomes for patients in health care.