Eastern Hospital expands remote psychiatric services
Eastern Hospital is extending its remote rehabilitation programme for psychiatric out-patients to cover caregivers as well, highlighting the importance of support for carers. The hospital's Department of Psychiatry launched a pilot tele-training scheme in 2020, aiming to serve patients remotely during the pandemic. The department now plans to implement the scheme on a permanent basis and extend services to other users, such as patients aged under 18 and carers. "Our tele-training will offer an alternative option and flexibility for our patients and also their carers," Dr. Anna Wu, the head of the Department of Psychiatry at Eastern Hospital, said. "To cater the psychiatric service for our patients, there are actually many aspects we have to consider. "Many will focus on the treatment options or symptom control, but actually community support and also carers' support are very important as well." At the moment, both face-to-face and tele-training are offered under a hybrid approach, and Dr Wu said the hospital will assess a patient's mental condition and access to electronic equipment and the internet on whether tele-training is appropriate. "Our target patients will be patients who would like to continue their rehabilitation training and therapeutic activities, yet due to their reduced mobility or other family issues which will hinder their chance of attending the day hospital. Then the tele-training will provide an alternative way for them." She added if a patient is found not to respond well to tele-training, face-to-face training will be offered instead.