Authors (including presenting author) :
Siu TS(2), Po MY(2), YL Choy(1), Leung KC(1), Wong CW(1), Wong CK(1), Wan MC(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals (2)Community Healthcare Services, HKEC
Keyword 3: :
Telemedicine
Keyword 4: :
Winter Peak Demand
Keyword 5: :
Reduce A&E attendances
Keyword 6: :
Reduce unplanned admissions
Introduction :
The Hong Kong East Cluster (HKEC) Community Geriatric Assessment Team (CGAT) has utilized telemedicine since 2002 to provide medical consultations for elderly patients in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs), especially in remote areas. In recent years, its use has expanded to manage high-demand periods, such as winter surges. Evidence suggests that increased CGAT outreach, including telemedicine, helps reduce Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) attendances and unplanned admissions. Telemedicine offers an effective way to extend medical coverage to more RCHEs while maintaining quality and timely support.
Objectives :
1. Evaluate the role of CGAT telemedicine during winter service demand surges. 2. Assess the impact of telemedicine on reducing A&E attendances among RCHE residents.
Methodology :
Apart from regular follow-ups, telemedicine supports ad hoc consultations for acute minor issues (e.g., respiratory infections or cold-weather related exacerbations). Also, proactive outbreak screening and high-risk patients for readmission will be screened by CGAT and provide timely and early medical attention via telemedicine. With the support of remote vital sign monitoring, caregiver-guided visual assessments, multidisciplinary teams could provide early interventions, medication reviews, and care planning at RCHE level. To ensure prompt hospital referral for urgent cases and to settle acute minor medical urges timely. Patients received CGAT tele- consultations were recorded, and subsequent A&E visits within 1, 3, and 7 days were tracked. Conclusion
Result & Outcome :
The primary goal is to lower A&E attendances and unplanned admissions during peak winter periods, ultimately easing pressure on hospital resources while providing timely medical care and support for vulnerable RCHEs residents via telemedicine. From December 2024 to May 2025, 1,414 patients received CGAT telemedicine consultations during the winter surge period. Subsequent A&E attendance rates were noted low with only 50 cases (3.5%) within 1 day, 94 cases (6.6%) within 3 days, and 157 cases (11.1%) within 7 days post-tele consultation. These figures indicate high clinical effectiveness, with over 96% of patients avoiding A&E within the first day and nearly 89% within a week. The low short-term re-attendance rates suggest that telemedicine interventions could successfully stabilize acute minor conditions and prevent unnecessary A&E attendance and admission among RCHE residents. This result reflects appropriate and timely remote intervention can contribute to diversion from emergency services during peak demand. Conclusion CGAT telemedicine supports significantly reduces unnecessary A&E attendances through remote monitoring, early medical intervention and support, while keeping patients comfortable in familiar settings.
