Remote project revitalizing medical and health service offering via telehealth : developing guidelines that the Ordre de Malte primary healthcare centers can use to conduct telehealth

Abstract

Telehealth, which is the provision of health services virtually, has been gaining much attention in the past years, and the following practicum report discusses the importance of its integration in middle- to low-income countries such as Lebanon, specifically at the level of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs). The REvitalizing Medical and health service Offering via TElehealth – REMOTE (REMOTE) project aims to integrate telehealth services into the 5 PHCs of the Order of Malta organization, under the supervision of the Health and Environment Response Agency (HERA). The intern worked on the baseline assessment phase by transcribing interviews conducted pre-implementation of patients and medical staff about their perspectives and attitudes towards the adoption of telehealth in primary healthcare centers. In addition to that, the intern develops a guidebook that outlines important steps and guidelines that current and future staff members of the PHCs can refer to and use to deliver telehealth successfully. The practicum projects were not without its challenges and obstacles; however, important skills and knowledge were gained from this experience, and they enriched the student’s learning experience and allowed her to apply theories, concepts, and principles in practical sites.