Standards › Standard 27 › Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Procedure · TEL-SOP-001 · Version 1.0 · Approved by the ASF Expert Committee
Supports: 27.7
At a glance
- Clinicians who work remotely are checked on wellbeing and isolation on a set schedule (TEL-FRM-002).
- Each clinician has regular contact with colleagues and a named support route.
- Warning signs trigger a conversation and support within the week.
- No clinician works alone for a year with no check.
- Stop and get help straight away if: a clinician works alone for a year with no contact and no check.
1. Purpose
To make sure the isolation and wellbeing risks of remote practice are monitored and supported (27.7).
2. Scope
| Applies to | Clinical and support staff in the hospital |
| Locations | All wards, clinics and departments of the facility |
| When | Whenever the activity described is carried out |
| Does not apply to | Activities covered by another document listed in section 15 |
3. Definitions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clinical lead | The doctor or nurse in charge of the area at the time |
4. Background
Clinicians who work alone from a screen can become isolated and burn out, and the strain shows in their care. Monitoring wellbeing and offering support keeps the workforce able to practise safely.
5. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility | Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Telemedicine service lead | Owns the check and the support route | Clinician or manager |
| Line manager | Holds the check conversation and records it | Clinician |
6. Materials and equipment
| Item | Requirement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Records and forms named in this document | Current version | Checked before use |
7. Safety
- Stop and call for help if a patient is at immediate risk. Do not delay urgent care to complete paperwork.
8. Before you start
- Confirm the forms and equipment named in this document are available and current.
9. Procedure
Step 1. Schedule the check.
- Hold a wellbeing and isolation check with each remote clinician each quarter.
Key point: Scheduled.
Step 2. Offer contact and support.
- Arrange regular team contact and a named support route, and record it.
Key point: Offered.
Step 3. Act on warning signs.
- Respond to a warning sign within the week and record the action.
Key point: Acted on.
10. Decision points
- No decision points in this procedure.
11. Special situations
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Out of hours | Follow the same steps. Use the on-call contact on the wall of the area. |
12. Escalation
- Any serious problem goes to the duty clinical lead at once and to the clinical director the same day.
13. Monitoring
| Measure | Target | Frequency | Owner | If not met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote clinicians with a check in the last quarter | 100% | Quarterly | Telemedicine service lead | Escalate to medical director |
14. Records
| Record | Kept in | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Record named in this document | Patient record or the area file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
15. Training
- Staff are trained in this document at induction and refreshed each year, with a recorded competency check.
16. Related documents
| ID | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| TEL-FRM-002 | Remote clinician wellbeing check record | Record |
| WRK-SOP-004 | Staff support after distressing events (existing, reused) | Procedure |
17. Evidence
| Reference | Note |
|---|---|
| E-009 | Based on the WHO Recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening (2019) and the WHO Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health (2021). |
| E-006 | ASF Policy Framework v1.2. Adapted. |
| E-009 | ASF Expert Committee consensus. |
18. Change history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | the date of approval | First version | set Expert Committee approval |
E-learning for this document
References
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Policy Framework v1.2. (E-006)
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Expert Committee consensus on Standard 1. (E-009)