Coviu's Telehealth Blog

The devastating 2019-20 Australian bushfires continue to rage on, with at least 28 recorded deaths nationally. Hundreds of structures have been destroyed and millions of animals and livestock have perished. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight, with experts warning the fires could could continue for months.

Over the last few years, the use of 'telehealth video consultations' has gained more traction in the healthcare space. This has resulted in a continuous string of academic studies being published, discussing the effectiveness of telehealth video consultations, particularly in speech pathology.

WebRTC video technology is the jewel in the HTML5 video conferencing crown. Sessions are fully encrypted, run entirely within the browser and can be accessed by any modern device including smartphones, iPads, and Tablets. WebRTC is the most secure video technology available today.

In early 2019, Sydney Children's Hospital trialed a telehealth program, where they offered video consultations to patients through their Hospital in the Home (HITH) physiotherapy service.

Lifeline's trial of their text helpline has exceeded expectations, by successfully targeting young Australians and under-represented groups who are struggling with their mental health.

Poor mental health is one of Australia's greatest health care burdens, with almost half the population experiencing mental illness at some point in their lives. Despite its prevalence, roughly 54% of those experiencing poor mental health will not access any treatment.

The 2019-20 bushfire season has been catastrophic, and there is no clear end in sight. So far, 4 people have lost their lives, over 400 homes have been destroyed and countless pets and wildlife have perished. Even as residents slowly return to their homes or communities, many adults and children will continue to experience poor mental health due to sheer loss and grief.

You stare at your watch as the precious minutes tick by, looking away only briefly to check that your children haven’t touched the communal magazines. Everyone around you is coughing and sputtering. You reach into your bag to grab the hand sanitizer, which you quickly distribute to your boys. ‘Don’t touch anything! I don’t want you both getting sick!’ you instruct.

This is exciting news: 12 NEW Telehealth MBS items for GPs will be available from November 1st, with more likely on the way.

Young-onset dementia (YOD) refers to anyone under the age of 65 who has been diagnosed with a progressive decline in their mental functioning. Although there are a wide range of illnesses included in the definition of dementia, common symptoms include loss of memory, rationality, social skills and normal emotional reactions. Recent figures suggest roughly 26 000 Australians are affected by YOD, which is roughly 10% of all people diagnosed with dementia.