Since the July 2011 implementation of Medicare rebates and financial incentives for video consultations with medical specialists in a distant location, general practitioners (GPs) working in Western Australia (WA) are embracing telehealth initiatives to improve access to healthcare services for patients living in Australia's largest state.
Thanks to the increasing uptake of telehealth, patients living in rural, remote and outer metropolitan locations have greater access to a range of subsidised consultations with GPs and specialists, reducing distance and cost barriers to receive healthcare.
Associate Professor Frank Jones, WA Faculty Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said telehealth initiatives, including video consultations and short message services (SMS), were playing an increasingly integral role in making healthcare accessible to all.
"Western Australia's vast geographical area lends itself to wide population dispersion, with a large proportion of the community residing outside of major metropolitan hubs," Associate Professor Jones said.
"Patients who previously had to drive hundreds of kilometres to receive healthcare, can now 'see' their doctor via video conference from the convenience of their own home."
Dr Mike Civil, Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Telehealth Standards Taskforce and practising GP in WA, said the full extent of telehealth benefits were yet to be seen, with a number of opportunities to expand telehealth initiatives into areas including aged-care facilities and into the homes of people living with a disability.
"For many members of the community, including the elderly and disabled, travelling large distances to receive healthcare is not always an option. This also goes both ways, with GPs not always able to complete regular home or community visits when time and resources are limited," Dr Civil said.
To guide GPs through telehealth consultations and provide a safety and quality framework for patients and GPs, the RACGP has been proactive in providing a number of resources, including but not limited to:
In addition to making these resources available to health professionals, the RACGP WA Faculty, Rural Health West and the Western Australian General Practice Telehealth Advisory Group (WA GP TAG) will be holding a free Taking on Telehealthworkshop on Friday 2 March 2012.
The workshop aims to bring together industry leaders in telehealth service provision and health using and setting up this technology in their general practice.
Presentations include:
- Implementation guidelines for video consultations in general practice – Dr Mike Civil, Chair RACGP Telehealth Standards Taskforce and Chair RACGP National Standing Committee – Standards for General Practice
- Preparing for telehealth in your practice – Australian Association of Practice Managers (AAPM)
- Tips and tricks for using telehealth in your practice – Dr Trevor Lord, GP, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council
- Telehealth tales – Successes and failures
- Update on the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) – Mr Craig Szucs, Change Manager National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA)
GPs working in WA with an interest in providing telehealth services are invited to attend at no cost.
Further information and registration details for the Taking on Telehealth workshop can be found at www.ruralhealthwest.com.au/go/telehealth.