Telehealth trials for NBN sites to focus on seniors’ health

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced that telehealth trials would begin in Armidale and Kiama in New South Wales (NSW) when the National Broadband Network (NBN) begins its rollout out early this year.

Senator Conroy said the Gillard Government would provide funding of up to $4 million under a National Partnership Agreement as part of the Digital Regions Initiative.

“Under the NBN every home, doctor’s surgery and hospital will have access to affordable high speed broadband. The trials will begin delivering the enhanced health services to the home that are made possible by a broadband-enabled environment,” Senator Conroy said.

The trials will focus on high-quality telehealth services for older Australians with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, living in Armidale and Kiama. Services will be delivered to the home, via the NBN.

The trials will be delivered in collaboration with NSW Health, local general practitioners and primary care providers.

Patients selected to participate in the trials may receive services such as:

• Home telehealth monitoring to monitor patient health and wellbeing indicators such as blood pressure, glucose levels and lung function, and issue alerts where required to local health professionals
• Home video-consultation to allow patients to communicate with relevant health providers through high quality video
• Healthy living support to provide information, coaching and relevant social networking opportunities to promote healthier lifestyles.

“By delivering health care services to the home, older Australians with chronic conditions will be better able to manage their health through ongoing monitoring and care in collaboration with their primary health providers,” Senator Conroy said.

“Telehealth has many benefits including fewer presentations to hospital or emergency departments, a reduction in the number of visits to GPs and other health services, reduced travel times and transport costs and improved patient self-management.

“Importantly, it can allow people to stay in their homes for longer, instead of being moved into residential care.”

Senator Conroy said a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts and outcomes of the trials will be undertaken to inform how telehealth could become a mainstream form of health service delivery for older Australians with chronic conditions.