Coviu's Telehealth Blog

Dr Annie Banbury, Clinical Research Lead at Coviu speaks with Hospital and Healthcare about the massive role telehealth can play in providing support for NDIS care.

Residents of rural and remote Australia often experience disadvantages and inequalities when it comes to healthcare access and delivery. Traditionally, access to speech and language sessions for children has been restricted to in-person visits. As a result, access to speech therapy for children living in rural and regional areas has been extremely limited and non-existent in many remote areas.

Dr. Richard Harvey is a telehealth evangelist and has been passionate about the potential of virtual care for over 30 years. In 2017 he established Telepsychiatrist.online - a highly successful virtual psychiatry clinic based in rural Victoria. Coviu interviewed Dr. Richard Harvey to learn more about his online practice and the delivery of psychiatry services online. Read on to see what Dr. Richard Harvey had to say.

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.

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.

The model is based on the 'Australian Statistical Geography Standard - Remoteness Areas (ASGS-RA)' existing classification system, which uses census data to segment 5 categories of remoteness, yet further subdivides regional Australia based on the size of local towns or cities.

Recent trends in legislation show that the Australian government is starting to offer greater reimbursements for telehealth in rural areas. As a result, demand for telehealth services is increasing, offering a new income stream for GPs. Adopting this technology allows clinicians to fight off online competition and provide patients with continuity of care. However, it is only natural that you may have questions about how to effectively incorporate it into your practice.

Did you know that people living in rural and remote areas of Australia face more daily challenges and stressors than living in the main cities?  These include a greater prevalence of chronic conditions, disability, and generally poorer health.  In some areas reporting 8 times the hospitalisation rate for mental health-related issues.

1. Minimise the risk of patient cancellations, delays, and no-shows.