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Video Consultation

For consultations where physical examination is not required, you may be offered the opportunity to use video consultation. Skype for Business is the software approved by St. Olavs hospital (STO) for patient consultations. On this page, you will find what you need to connect and participate in video consultations with your health personal.

Introduction

A man working om his laptop.

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The advantage of using video consultation is that you do not have to make unnecessary visits to the hospital. If there is a need for an examination or intervention, than it will be necessary to go to the hospital. Not all outpatient clinics / departments offer video consultations at this time. If you are interested in exploring the benefits video consultation has to offer, ask your health personal if your next consultation can be conducted using video.

Consent and email address 

Health personal must receive verbal consent from the patient before video consultation is used. STO will document given consent, and you can withdraw it at any time (without cause), without compromising your treatment. If you wish to withdraw your consent, than contact the secretary at the outpatient clinic where you will have the video consultation in order to withdraw your consent. 

Additionally, you will need to provide your email address so that we can send you an invitation/notice for your upcoming video consultation. 

Technical requirements in order to participate in a video consultation

  1. You must have a mobile phone, tablet or laptop (Windows) connected to the internet. The internet connection must be stable WIFI/4G. 
  2. Be able to download and install the "Skype for Business" app on your mobile or tablet (on laptop running "Skype for Business" in browser); and 
  3. Be able to read personal email on the device you are going to use (mobile, tablet, or laptop). Please note. The Skype for Business app does not work for Chromebook. 

Expenses 

Video consultations are billed the same, independent of a in-person consultation or video consultation. If you conduct a video consultation, than you will receive an invoice with your deductible, as if you were physically present. 

Confidentiality and Privacy 

As with physical attendance, the Health Personnel and Patient Rights Act's rules on confidentiality will govern the video consultation and processing of information during the conversation. Relevant and necessary health information will be recorded as if the conversation was face to face or by telephone. For security reasons, "regular" Skype is not used, but Skype for Business. Skype for Business uses an encrypted line, so that conversations (audio and video) are not stored on the internet or on our servers. Additionally, it will not be possible to send text messages ("chat") in the solution for security reasons. 

Further information on how your personal information will be processed is contained in our privacy statement. If you have any questions, the confidentiality and privacy representative can be contacted by e-mail to: post@stolav.no.

Before

Preparations / Before your consulation

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the technology well in advance of the first video consultation. We recommend using your mobile or tablet if you have the opportunity. It is important that you download the "Skype for Business" app well in advance of the video consultation and familiarize yourself with how it is used.

If you are using a laptop, than you do not need to download “Skype for Business” in advance.

Regardless of whether you are using a mobile, tablet, or laptop, we recommend that you carefully read all the information herein (i.e., download/installation and how to connect with the device(s) you want to use).

One final tip is to make sure that the unit is plugged-in (preferably with a full battery) and that you are sitting in a quiet room with good lighting.

How to prepare a mobile / tablet for a video consultation?

iPhone / iPad

  1. Go to the "App Store".
  2. Push “search” (at the bottom right of the screen).
  3. Write “SKYPE FOR BUSINESS” in the search box.
  4. Push on the "Skype for Business" app, tap “download”
  5. After installation, open the "Skype for Business" app. You need to answer yes (allow / OK) to questions about giving the app access to camera, microphone, contacts etc.
  6. Don't sign in - close the app.

Android

  1. Visit the "Play Store" on your mobile phone.
  2. Type “SKYPE FOR BUSINESS” in the search box at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap INSTALL on the "Skype for business" app.
  4. After installation, open the "Skype for business" app. You need to answer yes (allow / OK) to questions about giving the app access to camera, microphone, contacts etc.
  5. Don't sign in - close the app.

Testing video consultation via mobile / tablet

After installing the app on your mobile or tablet, you should test the connection. In the email invitation you received from the hospital, there is a link to the upcoming video consultation.


  1. Click on the link "Click HERE to join video consultation"
  2. Click "Join as Guest".
  3. Enter your name and press the big blue arrow.
  4. You will now come to the virtual lobby (waiting room) for the video consultation. The test is successful and you can end the test by pressing cancel.

How to prepare a laptop for a video consultation?

If you do not have Skype for Business installed on your PC, you will need to install an "add-on" to run the video consultation in your PC's browser.

In the email invitation you received from the hospital, there is a link to the upcoming video consultation.

Step by step: how to prepare your laptop
Bilde av hvor du skal trykke for å delta i videokonsultasjon.

Click on the link «Trykk HER for å bli med i videokonsultasjon».



Skjermdump av hva du skal trykke for å installere skype

Choose to «Installere og bli med ved hjelp av nettappen for Skype-møte».
Skjermdump av om du vil installere skype
When the download starts, select "Kjør" to install the browser add-on.
Skjermdump av tekstboks om du vil godta for å bli med i skypemøte
After installation: Press "Ja" to join the meeting.
Skjermdump av velkommen-boks
Enter your name and hit "Bli med".





Sikkerhetsadvarsel

You may find that you receive a security warning when you press "Bli med". If so, you must choose "Tillat tilgang".
After pressing "Bli med" (optionally "Tillat tilgang"), you enter the waiting room for the video consultation.
You are now done with PC setup and may close the current PC window (press X in the upper right corner).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I use a Chromebook for video consultation?

Currently, the Android version of the Skype for Business app does not provide 100% functionality on the Chromebook's operating system (ChromeOS). It is expected that there will be a separate version of the ChromeOS app, but until that happens, the Chromebook cannot be used for video consultation with Skype for Business.

Does it cost anything to download to download or use the "Skype for Business" app?

It is free to both download and use this app. If you use mobile network (4G), your data traffic will be charged to your subscription in the usual way. We recommend that you use WIFI if possible.

I can't download the app to my mobile.

Make sure you are connected to WIFI and that you have logged into your account in the App Store / Google Play.

I can't get the app started in Android

Some mobiles have security settings that prevent you from starting Skype for business. Try to look for messages you need to respond to on screen.

I can't get video enabled

Go to settings / settings on your mobile, find Skype for business in the list. Touch it and check if you have granted camera access for the app.

I do not get sound activated

Go to settings / settings on your mobile, find Skype for business in the list. Tap it and check if you have provided microphone access for the app.

Which username / password should I use to sign in to the Skype for Business app from mobile / tablet?

You should not select the "Sign in" option in Skype for Business, but "Join as Guest". Then you do not need a username / password, just enter your name and then press the blue arrow to connect.

I have clicked on "Join as Guest" and there is a screen that says "Good luck with the meeting", but the blue circle is just spinning. What should I do? 

Tips: If this screen has been spinning for more than 30 seconds, press "Cancel" and then select "Join as Guest" again. If you are connected to a cellular network (4G), you may not have enough data available. Solution: connect to Wifi.

How should I start the video consultation?

To start the video consultation, click on the link "Click HERE to join the video consultation" which is in the notice we send you by e-mail. But before you do this, it is important that you read and follow the download / installation guide and how to connect with the device you want to use.

I can't find the invitation/notice from the hospital in my email. 

Here are our three tips:

  1. If you clicked "Approve" on the notice, the notice may have been moved to your calendar. Check on the current date in the calendar.
  2. Also, if you can't find the appointment in the calendar, try searching for the invitation in the email. Search i.e., on keywords video.
  3. If you still cannot find the notice, contact the relevant department of the hospital so that we can send you the invitation/notice again.

I don't hear the health personal

Turn up the sound on your phone. Volume keys are most often on the side of the phone. Also, make sure that you have not disabled audio in the app. Speaker icon.

The camera does not show me

You have probably activated the main camera on your phone. Touch a space on the screen and select the camera icon in the upper right to change the camera you are viewing.

I am connected to WIFI but cannot get the camera activated

You are likely connected to a public network with security settings that will unfortunately not allow you to use video.


 

Technical questions?

Trouble with app download, connection or other technical questions related to video consultations? Contact 475 19 609 (technical questions only!).

During

The consultation is conducted as if the conversation was face to face at the hospital. When starting up, it is important that everyone presents themselves. If you have a friend / relative present during the conversation, it is important that they are presented and visible to the treating physician.

How to connect and participate in the video consultation via mobile / tablet

If you have already downloaded the "Skype for Business" app on your mobile / tablet, than follow the instructions below. If you have not downloaded skype, please refer to "How to prepare a mobile / tablet for a video consultation?" section above.

  1. Find your video consultation invitation/notice in your email, or in the calendar on your mobile / tablet.
  2. Click on the link "Click HERE to join the video consultation".
  3. If you have any questions, please confirm that the invitation/notice will be opened in the "Business / Skype for Business" app.
  4. In the "Welcome to Skype for Business" screen, select "Join as Guest" (important: do not select "Sign in"). Then enter your name and press the big blue arrow.
  5. Then you will wait in the lobby (waiting room) until the treating physician lets you in the consultation.
  6. When the consultation starts, the camera and microphone are turned off (disabled). In order to enable audio and video, you must:
    • Touch the camera icon; or
    • Touch the microphone symbol.
  7. When the video consultation is complete, press the red button to exit.

Tip: If you have trouble activating a camera or microphone, see "Frequently Asked Questions".

Note: The video (above) is made by Helse Møre and Romsdal, but the procedure is quite the same regardless of the hospital you have your video consultation with.

How to connect and participate in video consultation via laptop

If you have set up your PC, follow the instructions below. If you have not done so, see the "How to Prepare PC for Video Consultations" section above.




  1. Find the notice in your email. Click on the link::  «Trykk HER for å bli med i videokonsultasjon».




2.  After this message, a new window will open after a few seconds as shown in section 3. 

If it does not appear automatically, press «Prøv å bli med i møtet på nytt».


3. Enter your name and press «Bli med».

4. There may be such a message. If so, press «Tillat tilgang».

5. Now you are in the lobby (waiting room), where you wait until the health personal starts the meeting.

6. When the consultation starts, you will see the image / video of the health personal on your screen.

Make sure your video and microphone are turned on, as shown in the picture.
If there is a "dash" above the symbols, it means that the video and / or microphone is disabled. In this case, press the symbol once to activate.



7. When the video consultation is complete, press the red button to exit.



After

You will receive an invoice for any deductible. Expense you pay for video consultation are the same as if your consultation was conducted face to face at the hospital.




Contact information

Last updated 08.01.2021

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