Building a relationship over distance
There are many Human factors for Clinicians and the Community to Promote Acceptance of the telehealth environment, and the following are considered to be some of the most important.
- Framing techniques
Use PIP (picture in picture) and adjust the camera controls to frame participants
Lighting in front of participants enhances, while background light can detract the image
Backgrounds are important and can be distracting
Room colors can enhance the image, blue wall paint is the best
- Introduce yourself & others in the room, when you start speaking.
- Adjust your camera and microphone so that the far site can see and hear you. Look in to the camera and check the picture in picture (PIP).
Eye contact – direct your vision to the camera to emulate eye contact
Speak in your normal voice without shouting.
Make sure that you can see and hear the far-site participants and confirm they can hear and see you.
Delay in audio – this is normal, wait to avoid speaking over, apologizing if you speak over someone.
Place the microphone between the monitor and the people closest to the monitor.
Avoid tapping on the microphone or rustling papers near the microphone.
Mute the microphone before moving it so that the far site doesn’t hear you moving it.
In a multipoint call, mute your microphone when you are not speaking.
- Clinical Telepresenter
Equipment check,
Pre & post paperwork,
Contact information: phone & FAX
Privacy – closing doors
Don’t obscure the patient, stand to the side of the patient.
- Acknowledge technical difficulties – It is best to interrupt if you can’t see or hear each other.
- Emergency plan: What to do if you loose connection or you are unable to connect? Write down the plan, including the contact information: phone & FAX
- Sensitivity with cultures (Rural, urban, American Indian, adolescents and children)
