Staff sending the appointment information to patients who will be connecting a monitoring device during their Video Call, can use the following recommendations when sending the clinic link and supporting information. For patients using a Windows or Mac computer, you can send out the clinic link in the usual way and can add information letting them know they need to have their pulse oximeter ready. Click here for more information about sending the clinic link.

These recommendations below show how to send links to patients using iPhone/iPad (Bluefy browser link) or Android devices (Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge), to ensure the patient is using a compatible browser for the call.

Instructions for iPhone and iPad (iOS) users: When sending the clinic link to patients, please be aware that some will be attending their appointment using an iOS device. They will need a special link to attend, that will prompt the Bluefy browser to open. This browser supports Bluetooth, which enables the connection to the medical device. This link is easy to create and you can then add to your invitation with clear patient instructions. Your clinic link can be copied or you can send directly from the platform, using SMS or Email.
SMS or Email         When you use this option, the clinic link is automatically added at the bottom of the SMS or Email.        This image shows the default text for invitations (which can be edited to suit the clinic needs).
You can cover all device options by editing the default text and adding the specific link for iPhone/iPad users. This example shows suggested text for remote patient monitoring appointments, including Bluefy browser link for this clinic.         The Bluefy browser allows the patient monitoring device to connect to the call using Bluetooth. The patient will need to install and use the free Bluefy browser app on their device.        To create the Bluefy link, copy your usual clinic link and replace the 'https://' with 'bluefy://open?url='.        Note that I have chosen the SMS option here, as this means attending the appointment is a simple click on their iPhone or iPad.
The usual clinic link will appear at the bottom of the received invitation. Example Bluefy information and link are shown in this example.        Patients can then click on the relevant link that suits their device.        This removes the need to copy and paste the link into the Bluefy browser on iPhone or iPad, which some patients may find challenging.
Some patients may prefer to use the WebBLE Browser on their iPhone or iPad - however Bluefy provides a better user experience and is free to download.        This example shows suggested text for remote patient monitoring appointments, if requiring the WebBLE clinic link.        To create the WebBLE link, copy your usual clinic link and replace the 'https' with 'webble'.        Note that I have chosen the SMS option here, as this means attending the appointment is a simple click on their smart phone.        Please note: the patient will need to install and use the WebBLE browser on their device. This app costs $2.99.	Suggested text in Send SMS function An example of the SMS received by the patient
Instructions for Android users: When sending the clinic link to patients, please be aware that some will be attending their appointment using an Android device. They will need to use the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser to attend their appointment - so you can let them know this when you send out the appointment information.        Your clinic link can be copied or you can send directly from the platform, using SMS or Email.
SMS or Email         When you use this option, the clinic link is automatically added at the bottom of the SMS or Email.        This image shows the default text for invitations which you can edit to give more specific instructions, if desired.

See the simple steps below for instructing your patient to turn on and connect their monitoring device directly into the Video Call consultation.

Join the Video Call with your patient and explain that you will be helping them to connect their monitoring device to the call so you can monitor their results.        Please note: You and your patient must use either the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser or the WebBLE browser if using an iPhone or iPad (see WebBLE instructions in a separate dropdown on this page).
Click on Apps & Tools and then select Patient Monitoring Device.
You will see a representation of the screen presented to your patient. Please note: this is for your information and you cannot interact with the buttons on this screen.        Ask your patient to turn on their monitoring device and place it on their finger.         Next instruct your patient to click on Click Here to connect to your medical device.
Your patient will see a browser pop-up appear on their screen, allowing them to select their device and then click on Pair. This will connect their monitoring device to the Video Call via Bluetooth.        Please note: this is the view at the patient end.
You will see the results shared into the Call Screen after a few moments. The results are live and will update as long as the patient keeps the device on their finger.

If there is an issue with the patient's device connecting via Bluetooth during the Video Call, you can ask them to enter their results manually and share with you instead:

If the results are showing live during the call and then there is a connection issue, you can click on the 'Back to pairing' button and this sends the patient back to the initial screen. They can either use the Click here to connect to your medical device button to reconnect OR you can ask them to enter their results manually.
To enter results manually, instruct your patient to click on the Add Manual Entry button.
Next, ask them to input the results showing on their monitoring device and then click on Confirm Results.        Please note: this is the screen the patient sees to manually enter their results.
Once confirmed, you will see the results appear on your screen as shown in this example. (Your patient won't see the results screen but they will be notified that the results have been sent to you).        You can use the Take the screenshot button to download an image file of the results for the patient record.

Some monitoring devices have the ability to store historical data and this can be accessed during a Video Call. In this way you can view the data from the device to monitor your patient's health. Currently, this has been tested and is working on the iHealth PO3M pulse oximeter. Please use these steps to access the historical data on this device:

Join your patient in the Video Call and, when ready, click on Apps & Tools and then select Patient Monitoring Device.        Important:        Ask your patient to turn on their monitoring device but tell them not to place it on their finger. This is because you want to access the historical data, rather than live data.
Next, instruct your patient to click on Click Here to connect to your medical device.         Your patient will see a browser pop-up appear on their screen, allowing them to select their device and then click on Pair. This will connect their monitoring device to the Video Call via Bluetooth.        Please note: this is the view at the patient end.
Once the monitoring device pairs, your patient will see the Bluetooth symbol on the device light up.         Remind them not to put the device on their finger but to leave it turned on.
The historical data will be accessed and start sharing into the Video Call.         Click on the Take the snapshot button to take a screenshot of the results showing on the screen.

The following devices have been tested and are working with healthdirect Video Call for remote physiological monitoring.

BerryMed BM1000c
iHealth PO3M        (including the ability to view and download historical data from the device)
CreativeMed PC-60FW
ChoiceMed MD300CI218R
CreativeMed PC-68B Wrist Oximeter        To see a short video demonstration of this device being used in a Video Call for remote physiological monitoring, please click here.
CreativeMed PC-68B Wrist Oximeter - continued        This pulse oximeter is comfortable, easy to wear and can easily be used when exercising, eg walking or running, to measure pulse rate and oxygen saturation.
CreativeMed PC-68B Wrist Oximeter - continued        This screenshot shows the results from the wrist oximeter sharing into a Video Call.

These downloadable reference guides provide a quick how-to for remote physiological monitoring:

Quick reference guide for clinicians

Quick reference guides for patients (please click on the link for the device or computer you are using):

• For patients using an iPhone or iPad for their appointment
• For patients using an Android device for their appointment
• For patients using a Windows or Mac computer for their appointment

These short videos take you through the remote physiological monitoring steps within a video call:

Remote physiological monitoring instructions for clinicians

Remote physiological monitoring instructions for patients

* The data usage for Video Call plus realtime monitoring is similar to watching a YouTube video, if you can do so with your internet connection, then you have enough bandwidth to participate in the Video Call consult. 

If using an iPhone or iPad (iOS device) for your video consultation that will include remote physiological monitoring, please download and use the Bluefy browser from the App Store. This browser is required on iOS devices so that the Bluetooth connection to the monitoring device will share the results into the consultation.

1. Go the App store and search for Bluefy. Click to install the app and provide your Apple ID password, when requested.        The Bluefy browser allows your patient monitoring device to connect to your Video Call via Bluetooth. It is free and easy to use.
2. Your clinic will send you the link for your appointment. They should include a specific Bluefy link for your appointment - similar to the one shown in this example.
If a specific Bluefy link is not provided, press and hold on the link provided and select Copy, then open Bluefy browser and paste the link into the web address section of the browser.
Start your Video Call by clicking on the Start A Video Call button. For more information about starting a call as a patient, please click here EditSign EditSign EditSign EditSign EditSign .
Once the consultation begins your health service provider will give you instructions for sharing the results from your monitoring device (eg pulse oximeter) into the call.

If you are using your smartphone to participate in a Video Call where remote patient monitoring will be included in the consultation, you will need to set the phone's sleep time to 5 minutes or more. This is because on a phone you have the ability to switch between the call screen, showing the other participant/s, and the results screen. If you are on the results screen your phone will go to sleep at the time you have set in your phone settings and this may be as short as 30 seconds, for example. If the phone goes to sleep the results will stop updating live in the Video Call.

For this reason, it is best practice to set the phone sleep time to 5 minutes or more before the consultation begins. 

To do this:

On an Android device, go to Settings > Display > Screen timeout and set to 5 or 10 minutes for the duration of the Video Call.  You can easily change the setting back at the end of the consultation.
On an iPhone, go to Settings >  Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set to 5 minutes or 'never' for the duration of the Video Call.  You can easily change the setting back at the end of the consultation.