BUILDING BETTER AGED CARE
AGED CARE TELE-EXAMINATION PILOT FIRST IN AUSTRALIA GP AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR SENIOR AUSTRALIANS
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n October 2021, Goodwin Aged Care Services and Next Practice Deakin in Canberra launched a joint program to make GP and medical examinations more accessible for senior Australians. Through innovative technology, the program allows GPs to conduct physical examinations virtually, expanding the concept of telehealth into tele-examination. The technology, developed by TytoCare, provides aged care workers with a comprehensive suite of tools that allow easy examination of the ears, nose, lungs, heart, throat, skin, abdomen and temperature, which is controlled and reviewed remotely by the GP in real-time. Dr Paresh Dawda of Next Practice Deakin said the technology provides the opportunity for a consultation that’s as clinically sound and effective as face-to-face but without having to be in the same location. “This is an excellent step forward in increasing accessibility and responsiveness of health services for Australian seniors. Accessing primary health services is a real issue for seniors, especially for those who aren’t mobile and have difficulty leaving the house,” he said. Due to travel time, GP home visits or visits to residential care facilities can sometimes be limited, making providing care for those who most need GP consultations a real challenge for the industry. The new joint program using TytoCare technology aims to solve this issue while also contributing to a more positive experience for the patients by utilising the accessibility features including auto-captions. This program is a first for the primary care sector, extending the accessibility of high-quality virtual care services to a far wider audience, providing patients, carers, and families the opportunity to attend an appointment, no matter where they are located. Residents and clients will also receive consultations sooner as they won’t have to wait until a doctor comes to visit the home. The three-month pilot will engage with roughly 100 Goodwin residents and clients across two cohorts throughout the ACT.
One device will operate on-site in Goodwin’s residential care facility David Harper House, while the other device will be used by Goodwin’s home care team, which will see the enhanced virtual care occur in people’s homes. Tamra MacLeod, Goodwin Executive Manager Clinical and Health Services, said Goodwin is very excited by this project, especially during this pandemic when minimising people’s movement is so important. “Tele-examinations would greatly improve residents’ safety. It means that people can get the medical advice they need in the safety of their home without having to be exposed to clinics,” she said. TytoCare can be used by anyone—carers, nurses, even digitally literate patients themselves. The clinician is connected to a smartphone or tablet, controlling the device settings virtually, as well as providing directions to the carer or patient both verbally and visually, using picture instructions on the screen to help guide the user as to where to place the device. While the technology allows for many consultation aspects to be conducted remotely, the pilot is not replacing physical consultations for Goodwin residents and clients. The initiative aims to utilise both face-to-face and virtual care to build on a responsive service delivering comprehensive and continuity of care. Goodwin and Next Practice Deakin are working together toensure carers can operate the equipment and clients feel comfortable and safe in consulting with their GP in this manner. Dr Dawda said he is confident in the technology’s quality and believes the pilot program is a great opportunity to explore how the platform can be tailored to suit the aged care environment and increase positive outcomes for residents and home care clients. Goodwin Aged Care Services and Next Practice Deakin. For more information visit www.goodwin.org.au
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