GP Focus with Dr Richard Russell

Our GPs are an important part of Bay Health Care Partners and here our GPs and primary care colleagues have the opportunity to talk about issues and specialties that they are working on or interested in. This month Dr Richard Russell talks to us about how Microsoft HoloLens 2 is transforming care at Kendal Care Home. 

Microsoft HoloLens 2 has been used by the nursing staff at Kendal Care Home since October 2020 transforming how they carry out their ward rounds with residents during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The headset is linked to a Dynamics 365 Remote Assist app which uses Microsoft Teams to send a secure live feed to a computer screen meaning a GP working from their GP practice or remotely can receive a call from the nurse and directly assess the resident through the eyes of the attending nurse.

HoloLens has enabled GPs to have real-time communications with residents and because the system provides us with better quality images, GPs can diagnose and produce a treatment plan - improving care and experience for the residents.

The mixed reality headset has other great benefits and has allowed GPs to assess approximately 102 residents remotely reducing the infection risk to residents, GP and GP surgery staff. Many of the residents we have assessed are bedfast or have skin conditions (leg swelling and skin rashes) which mean they do not have to attend a GP surgery. The technology has also been used as part of compassionate care to support residents who are nearing the end of their life in line with the Gold Standards Framework.

HoloLens really has been crucial during the pandemic and I look forward to developing the concept further with colleagues at Kendal Care Home, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Kendal Integrated Care Community.

You can watch our short film at the Bay Health and Care Partners YouTube channel here. The film looks at the benefits of HoloLens 2 at Kendal Care Home.