Heute 416

Gestern 667

Insgesamt 39780792

Dienstag, 21.01.2025
Transforming Government since 2001
The WA Country Health Service says a new telehealth eye care service in the Goldfields-Esperance region will play a major role in the future of patient health care.

The $1.3 million federal program will focus on Indigenous and older Australians and run for 18 months.

The technology allows remote patients to have an instant consultation with a doctor in Perth or Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

The health service's Goldfields' regional director Geraldine Ennis says it is likely video consultations will replace conventional consultations in coming years.

"Eventually I think that we will use video conferencing for almost everything that you don't actually need some hands-on treatment [for]," she said.

"If you need a dressing done that can be done locally, save you going to Perth.

"I think this is the technology of the future. I think that eventually you will even get GP appointments using this type of technology."

She says the technology is on par with a sit-down consultation with a GP.

"I think that you just have to change your mindset," she said.

"I mean they have video conferencing that now goes into people's homes to check that they're okay.

"They're Skyping into people's homes making sure that people are alright, so I think that this is the way of the future and yes it will replace the conventional consults that we known now and I think that's something we will get used to."

The head of the emergency department in Kalgoorlie, Matthew Summerscales, says he is surprised by how normal the virtual interactions are.

"There are obviously limitations to it. You can't do examinations like you would do but with technology like the camera you don't necessarily need to be there, you can use the technology to help you," he said.

"Look, I certainly think it'll help the communities in the Goldfields.

"They're still going to have their patients to see but it'll allow us to access other services we don't currently provide."

He says he is surprised by how much he enjoys the virtual consultations.

"I thought it would seem very remote and very distant but having done it it's actually very natural and normal and you have a normal interaction," he said.

"It's just like being in the room. I didn't think I'd like it at all, I thought I'd find it very strange but in fact I really enjoy it."

---

Quelle/Source: ABC Indigenous, 09.05.2013

Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:

Zum Seitenanfang