Directly observed treatment supervision (DOTS) is currently considered world-wide best practice in the treatment of tuberculosis where patients are monitored in person selfadministering their medications. While effective, this process is considered inefficient, inconvenient and potentially risky for exposure to the disease.
With V-DOTS, electronic media are used to monitor the observation process, where ‘virtual clinics’ replace the direct face-to-face interaction between client and clinician. This new process has several benefits including privacy and convenience for the patient, elimination of travel time and expense, as well as the eradication of cross-infection risk. Clients can negotiate appointment times wherever they are in the world and at a time to suit them and case managers.
Client and staff satisfaction in the initiative has been one-hundred per cent positive and the program is planned to be rolled out to nine other local health districts.
