Telehealth- the poorly used tool in the toolbox?

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Presenters: Natalie Bradford1,2, Nigel Armfield1,2, Anthony Smith1,2

Organisation: 1University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia

Date of Presentation: 21/10/2014

Abstract:

AIM:
To describe how telehealth can be used to harness scarce health resources and deliver equity of access to high quality care at the right time, in the right place.
METHOD:
Over a period of 13 years the University of Queensland’s Centre for Online Health, has investigated the use of telehealth across a variety of disciplines and settings including: general paediatrics, oncology, palliative care, the home setting, the community setting, and in paediatric and neonatal intensive care.
RESULTS:
Over 20’000 consultations have been documented and research undertaken to examine effectiveness in each of these disciplines and settings. However, telehealth is still not widely used by the majority of clinicians. Barriers include disincentives to utilise telehealth at a policy level and clinicians who are reluctant to embrace change and the possibilities of service innovation through telehealth.
CONCLUSION:
Telehealth should be used routinely, throughout the continuum of care, whenever families are faced with difficulties accessing care and information due to time or distance.  Health services need to re-orientate themselves and view telehealth as a valuable tool, which can be harnessed to improve equity of access to care and improve efficiencies in the health care system.