ABSTRACT
Aim: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, specialist palliative care services have had to adapt the delivery of service for patient safety, particularly outpatient group interventions.The physiotherapy department had successfully run an exercise and education programme for patients with advanced lung disease who are severely deconditioned, breathless and unsuitable for inclusion in standard rehabilitation programmes. The aim of this project was to adapt the programme from its original format and transition it to an evidence-based telehealth(TH) programme. Design: We reviewed evidence-based literature examining successful TH service delivery and liaised with an established TH pulmonary rehabilitation service. Results: Through our research, we identified the following areas of concern;Technology-Considerations for selecting a videoconferencing platform included user-friendliness and quality of audio-visual functions. Instruction leaflets to assist patients navigate the platform were developed. Security measures such as the ability to provide password protected meetings and data encryption were considered. Safety-A home visit was completed, including a review of exercise precautions. It was recommended that a second person be present during classes. A risk assessment was completed for those without a second person. Classes were facilitated by two physiotherapists;one leading the class while the other monitored patients for adverse events. This programme has been successfully running for 3 months with no adverse events. Conclusion/Lessons learned: This project has given us insight into the benefits of having an online platform. Initial concerns regarding patients' ability to master technology were eased and only minimal troubleshooting was required. Future research should investigate whether it is sustainable over a longer period without affecting quality of care. Existing research was limited and this project has provided a platform for which guidelines may be developed.