Make Video Consultations | Medical Appraisal Scotland

Scottish Medical Appraisal & Revalidation Toolkit Supporting Information Quality Improvement Activity Consultation Skills Development

Making a video recording of your consultations

For each consultation, consent MUST be given by the patient, and yourself, for educational use.

Patients should be informed of the following ahead of the appointment:

Video recording is planned for that consultation;
Should they be unwilling to be videoed - this will not affect their consultation with the doctor;
Why the recording is being made and the purposes for which it will be used;
Who will see it, and
How long it will remain in existence.

If a friend or relative accompanies the patient during the consultation, it should be made clear that they are there at the invitation of the patient and they should also be informed of their right to confidentiality and consent.

The consultations should be present in their entirety, with any revealing examination of the patient taking place off camera.

Consent Form

The consultation should only be video recorded if the patient and/or others accompanying the patient sign the consent form, ideally before seeing the doctor.

If unsigned, the video camera should be switched off.

Consent forms should be available in languages other than English (if appropriate) so that patients whose first language is not English clearly understands what they are being asked to do.

Where patients are unable to give consent because they suffer from a mental disability, or for any other reason, consent must be sought from a close relative or carer. In the case of children and young people who lack the understanding to consent on their own behalf, the consent of an adult with parental responsibility must be obtained.

Procedure after the consultation

Following the consultation, the patient initial the post-consultation part of the consent form if the patient is still agreeable for the recording of the consultation to remain. If not, it should be indicated as such on the consent form. The doctor should then erase the recording at the first available opportunity and confirm to the patient when this has been done.

The patient must be offered the opportunity to view the recording, in the form in which it is intended to be shown, before the recording is used. The patient also has the right to withdraw consent to the use of the recording at that stage.

The recording is only to be used for the purposes to which consent has been given.

Storage and Erasure

The video recordings should be stored with the same security and confidentiality as patient medical records. They should be stored alongside the consent forms, and with a list of people who are allowed to view the recordings.

The responsibility for security, confidentiality, storage and erasure falls to the doctor themselves. The recording will be erased as soon as possible but definitely no later than one year after the date of recording.

We expect video recordings to be stored and shared digitally. If the recordings are stored in physical video tapes or memory cards then they should be transported by the doctor or their representative (e.g. personal messenger). Postal services should only be used if sent using registered mail delivery.

Best Practice

To obtain maximum value from the process, a written log should be maintained to help you reflect on the consultations prior to receiving feedback. An example of a suitable log is available below, and a sample example included also.

Confidentiality and patient consent to recordings being made are both essential. Template consent forms and Patient Information leaflet are provided below.

Once you have completed your video recording and received your feedback, it is essential that you consider what you have learned, and decide how you wish to consolidate learning, or develop new skills.

Lastly, remember to destroy any recordings and other records which would identify your patients, after use.

Making a video recording of your consultations

Making a video recording of your consultations

Consent Form

Procedure after the consultation

Storage and Erasure

Best Practice

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