Telehealth

Telehealth is broadly defined as a consult between a patient and a specialist who are in different locations over a video connection.  Telehealth can be very simple but having adequate internet connectivity, a computer, suitable camera (an inbuilt camera can work for general consultations) and a microphone.

If you are thinking of using Telehealth start off small and grow as you become more familiar with the technology and see the benefits.  As your ability to use telehealth increases you will quickly realise that a couple more pieces of equipment will see greater benefits.  The use of ceiling mounted “emergency cameras’ are excellent and some can be controlled remotely, adding a better fixed camera and a more powerful microphone can improve family telehealth sessions and enhance wound and other close up video requirements.

The AMSANT Digital Health team can assist you with questions from technology requirements to clinical practice, change management and training.

Benefits

• Greater access to specialist services for patients remote from the specialists home location
• Less expensive and easier compared to a patient  (and family or escorts )travelling long distances when a telehealth consult will suffice
• Decreased non-attendance due to inability to travel (eg needing to care for family, children etc)
• Remote clinicians are able to increase their skills and knowledge in specialty areas due to being involved with the patient during their consult
• Clinician or family member able to attend consult and assist patient with understanding what is being said and is required as treatment or follow up,

Healthdirect

The NT Government more recently switched from the NT Connection Service that was hosted by Telstra Health to the “Healthdirect” Video Consultation system, to improve the connection of both Government and ACCHS’s into the NT Tertiary/Hospital Clinical providers.  The newer system aims to overcome connectivity, and also the physical equipment challenges that may be barriers to healthcare access. The new system will run Video Consults on an iPad, mobile-phone, Laptop or desktop computer, and apart from needing the usual Camera/Speakers/Microphone, no special hardware is required which is a good step forward for our members who either didn’t have the earlier “Telehealth Cart”, or found them difficult to use. Many services Post-COVID have already expanded their use of VC enabled computers and devices, so these can now be used with the new system.

The services being offered through Healthdirect into Alice Springs Hospital, RDH, KDH are mixed, with a range of specialists for direct patient care are in the areas of tele-critical care and tele-specialist clinics. Some of the work units leading the way to facilitate high level clinical care via the telehealth network are Tele-Burns, Tele-Gastro, Pre-Admissions clinics, Tele-Rheumatology, Tele-Renal, Tele-Oncology and Tele-Respiratory. There is also professional decision support. There are also a number of professional development activities that are being facilitated via the telehealth network. Services are using video technology for public health forums, grand rounds, information sharing and one-to-one professional supervision, which all contributes to supporting staff in the more isolated areas of the Northern Territory. Click here to see the National Healthdirect Videocall Website.

If you have questions about using the NT Department of Health’s Healthdirect Video Call, their Helpline is;
1800 000 254, and email is service.centre@nt.gov.au

Please feel free also to contact the AMSANT Digital Health team if you have any questions around your service initiating or expanding telehealth utilisation.

Darwin Office  08 8944 6666 Ask for the “Digital Health” area

Alice Office 08 8959 4600                   ”                  “