Initiating & Using Live Stream

1. Step 1. Starting a Telemedicine (Live Stream) Visit

To initiate a Live Stream session via the Eko Windows Application, the telehealth provider at the patient location will need to be signed in with the applicable Eko username. They can then switch the ‘Live Stream’ button from OFF to ON. The OFF/ON button is located at the bottom of the screen next to the volume slider. 

Turning ON the Live Stream activates a Live Stream URL, which enables the telehealth consultant located remotely to access the audio feed.    

2. Step 2. Sharing the Live Stream URL

The telehealth provider at the patient location can share the Live Stream URL to one or more telehealth consultants located remotely by selecting “Copy Live Stream link”. This will copy the URL to the clipboard of the Windows device. The telehealth provider at the patient location can share the Live Stream URL with the telehealth consultant located remotely by pasting it into any secure EHR chat, email, or video conferencing messaging system. 

Sharing the Live Stream URL via Email

The telehealth provider at the patient location can also share the Live Stream URL to a telehealth consultant via email by selecting “Email Live Stream link”. This will direct the user to a screen where an email can be entered and sent securely to the telehealth consultant

After entering the telehealth consultant’s email and clicking Send Link the consultant will receive an email directing them to join the Live Stream session and will direct them to the telehealth provider’s unique Live Stream URL. 

3. Step 3. Saving the Live Stream URL For Future Visits

To streamline future visits, the telehealth consultant located remotely can save the Live Stream URL as a bookmark in their internet browser. Ask your Eko representative about the best method of managing multiple Live Stream accounts and URLs.

Note that the Live Stream URL can be reset between visits at the discretion of the institution or telehealth provider at patient location, in which case it would need to be re-shared with the telehealth consultant located remotely. Resetting the Live Stream URL will end any Live Stream in session.

Eko’s Live Stream service transmits de-identified patient heart, lung, and bodily sounds. No data is stored during these sessions and no identifying information is displayed to the telehealth consultant. 

4. Step 4. Instructions for Telehealth Consultant to Open Live Stream URL

The Telehealth Consultant (located remotely) can open the Live Stream URL in a Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox browser on any Mac or Windows laptop or tablet. Telehealth Consultants should plugin high-quality headphones in order to auscultate.

Telehealth Consultants listening to the Live Stream from a Windows device during a videoconference must disable a Windows setting the automatically reduces volume by 80%. Follow the instructions in Step 8 to ensure the volume is not reduced. 

When opened and active, the Live Stream will appear as in Figure 13 below, with the waveform and audio available to the Telehealth Consultant. 

Figure 9:

5. Step 5. Prevent Windows from Automatically Reducing Volume

Telemedicine consultants listening to an Eko Live Stream session from a Windows device while also conducting a videoconference may find the volume of the stream is automatically lowered. This is because Windows has a built-in feature that automatically lowers the volume of other streams during a video call. Fortunately, there is a quick fix to disable the volume decrease feature so that the full volume of the Eko Live Stream can be heard concurrently during a videoconference.  
 

To stop Windows from automatically reducing the Eko Live Stream volume, follow these 5 simple steps:  

1. Head to Windows Control Panel and select Hardware and Sound.
2. Then click on Sound to launch the sound configuration window. Alternatively, if the Control

Panel is organized by icon instead of category, choose Sound from the list. If it is difficult to

locate the Control Panel, right-click the computer’s sound icon and select “Sounds” from the

option menu.

In the Sound configuration window, click on the Communications tab. The Communications

tab will look like Figure 11 below.

Figure 11:

By default, the option to ‘Reduce the volume of other sounds by 80%’ is selected. Change this

to ‘Do Nothing’ to disable the volume-reduction feature.

Click OK to save changes and close the Sound configuration window.