Providing Virtual Care in Kenya

Telehealth, is comprised of contemporary technology including telecommunication (i.e., videoconferencing and phone conversations), email, and short message service (i.e., text message), among others. Overall, services provided through technology, including telehealth, aim to increase the efficiency of tasks, while improving client access to services. Smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, and smart watches has become ubiquitous in our society, and related software that operate on those devices enable user access to a variety of valuable applications, behavioral analysts are able to use technology to enhance their service provision and improve outcomes for their clients.

Telehealth allows for health care services and public health to be delivered long-distance via technology. It encompasses all aspects of health care services including diagnoses, management, consultation, treatment, and education, in regards to patient and public health care. 

Videoconferencing is beneficial in providing services where there is geographical distance and lack of affordable transportation, as well as services in telepsychiatry, psychological assessment, and clinical supervision. 

The primary benefit of telehealth services is the availability of services and professional expertise to even remote areas. Additionally, telehealth can enhance the availability of professional expertise around the world and provide a new means for clinical supervision. Similarly, psychologists throughout the world are able to participate in continuing education with experts in various fields, thus raising the global level of professional expertise. Overall, telehealth allows for the extensive communication of professionals and patients across the world to engage one another via a vast number of technological methods and with a larger supply of interventions to choose from.

Because of the ever-changing and continual advances in technology, telehealth is a field that will also be constantly changing and advancing. 

Telehealth aims to deliver healthcare services to patients using online, telephone, and text messaging systems. These systems are typically used for: 

-patient care and management such as diagnosis, consultation, and instruction

- educational applications including physician education, training for health staff and patient education for both disease management and preventive care

- administration and communication such as exchanging information with insurers, lab services, and scheduling. 

The survey consisted of 2,600 participants. A 10 questions questionnaire as given to participants and they all answered the questions. The participants showed interest in being treated via online platforms. 95% have a phone that is able to take pictures and have the ability to facetime via what’s up, signal and Facebook. 

A steering committee consisted of dedicated leadership to set the vision, objectives and scope and guiding principles. Teams of church/community leaders were tasked with defining good practice and ideal workflow to generate requirements. IT experts were charged with designing technology solutions to meet the telehealth requirements.

Integration of mobile health information in health technology: 

Expand infrastructure to support wireless access in addressing health care needs.

Opportunities to use technology, include interactive voice response calls, short message services and delivery of telehealth.

In Kenya, the country is large and sparsely populated. Landline use is almost to zero. There is an increase of cell phone use. 17% of Kenyans do not own cell phones. 35% of those who own cell phones have smart phones. These mobile devices are interactive with voice response, short message service or text messaging. These are increasingly used to expand and support health information and technology to improve healthcare.

The goal of this research in Thogoto/Kikuyu area is to use the mobile technology – sms, whats up, zoom, facetime to offer a platform for patients and health professionals to create, assess, maintain and exchange health delivery. The goal is to bring mobile health to every disadvantaged resident in that geographical area which will save time, cost, minimize travel, access healthcare easily. This will offer ways to improve quality, efficacy, and safety of health of health care delivery and significantly contribute to productivity within health care setting. 

Mobile health applications integrated into basic and smartphones enhance the functionality of cellular devices and are critically necessary to extend the reach of health initiatives

Data collection:

Semi structured interviews-Survey Monkeys Random surveys in churches with open ended questions was carried out by volunteers.

Public   health is an area that has been quick to embrace SMS, especially in Health Information   Technology initiatives directed at primary care. Because text messages   can reach large population segments quickly and often at a low cost, SMS is  commonly used in Health Information Technology initiatives targeting disease   outbreaks, populations, and health promotion. For example, more and more   public and medical treatment centers offer free access to wireless   connections, which allows patients to communicate using HIT. The mobile   platform has also been a reliable way to enhance transparency, management,   and accountability regarding patient health information..

The emergence of new technologies is accompanied by limitless possibilities and potential benefits in the delivery of high-quality and cost-effective patient care. The key to sustainability for mobile Health technologies will be the use of an appropriate tool, at an appropriate time, for an appropriate patient. Collection of relevant data will also be needed to support use for patients and in clinical workflow. 

Method- This project was conducted within a large network of churches across Thogoto/Kikuyu area. The goal was to develop a method of health access, clinical experts, informaticists, information technology experts to design develop and deploy tele health. 

Goshen Community Telehealth will serve Kiambu County with goals to spread to every county in Kenya.