North Coast GPs and allied health professionals are encouraged to take advantage of new telehealth equipment being delivered to residential aged care homes that’s designed to support timely primary care access.
This initiative aims to increase the availability and use of telehealth care for aged care residents, enabling improved access to primary care and other specialist services.
Participating residential aged care homes (RACHs) across our region are upgrading their telehealth facilities to support virtual consults and assessment to residents.
Supporting access to primary care clinicians and specialist services in aged care homes through telehealth will improve health outcomes for residents, avoiding unnecessary Emergency Department presentations and hospital transfers.
PHN-funded telehealth equipment
Healthy North Coast, through the PHN program, has been working with local RACHs to provide tailored telehealth equipment packages to suit their specific needs and residential care requirements.
The telehealth solutions that RACHs could choose from included:
- Option 1 — equipment to set up a fixed virtual consultation room within the aged care home. This option was offered for facilities that have poor Wi-Fi or internet coverage, limiting the ability to use a mobile solution.
- Option 2 — most North Coast RACHs have opted for the mobile video-telehealth package, which includes iPads, a medical grade cart and accessories, offering greater flexibility in providing care.
- Option 3 — a remote diagnostic package featuring the Visionflex ‘Telehealth Cart’ equipped with a comprehensive assessment kit, including a medical examination camera for wound review or oral examination, general observation equipment, a digital stethoscope, digital otoscope, and 3-lead ECG wire. This advanced solution is currently supported through a 12-month pilot involving 10 participating RACHs.
All RACHs have the opportunity to receive digital health training and those taking up the Visionflex option will receive equipment training and support.
Are you working with North Coast RACHs?
Local general practices and allied health services are being encouraged to connect with their RACH staff to take advantage of improved telehealth technologies. This equipment is designed to help provide timely, accessible healthcare for routine visits and unexpectedly deteriorating residents.
If you have any questions or feedback about use of telehealth in RACHs, please get in touch with Healthy North Coast’s Healthy Ageing Team today using this form.
The provision of RACH telehealth equipment and staff training is funded by Healthy North Coast through the Australian Government’s PHN Program. This initiative is a key deliverable identified to help improve primary care access in aged care facilities in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.