News

Technology delivers better access to specialists

Sep 30, 2015

A new Telehealth facility at the Mildura Base Hospital will give local residents access to a larger range of specialist services and consultations without having to leave Mildura.

The Department of Health and Human Services has provided funding for the new service to help bridge the distance to specialist healthcare in capital cities through real-time health consultations online.

MBH Project Officer for Performance Improvement Mandie Hayes said the Telehealth facility will be of particular benefit to elderly and chronically-ill patients who face significant barriers in travelling for specialist appointments.

“We have set up a private Telehealth room at the hospital where patients can be linked directly through video-conferencing with their specialist in Melbourne or Adelaide,” Ms Hayes said.

“Patients have their own allocated appointment time, they have privacy and the specialist is right there – the only difference is that they are on a screen, rather than on the other side of the desk,” she said.

Ms Hayes said the Telehealth facility operated within the Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) service, which focusses on providing integrated care and community services to help avoid hospital admissions.

HARP has operated for 10 years in Mildura and provides services to clients with chronic illness, with self-management techniques, community services and education to help them manage their multiple health issues and keep them at home.

“We have found that with a number of our HARP clients if they are referred to a specialist and the only option is to travel, many will just choose not to have the consultation they need,” Ms Hayes said.

“For many chronically-ill people who are older, who have disabilities or who lack family support, travelling to Melbourne or Adelaide is sometimes just too daunting and stressful,” she said.

“This way, people can have their consultations locally, they can have a support person with them, and their HARP care co-ordinator will also be present to assist with the consultation or provide extra information.”

Ms Hayes said the Telehealth service would provide improved access to specialist services and reduce the burden of travel for patients and their carers.

“We have a growing number of local and visiting specialist services here, but for services such as respiratory physicians, or endocrinology, for example, the Telehealth facility can ensure our local patients can still get access to the best in specialist care,” she said.