Telehealth Information for Primary Care

This page has been set up by the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network to assist is the implementation of telehealth for primary care providers.

There are many benefits to telehealth in the primary care space:

• Telehealth can provide improved access to quality healthcare
• Telehealth enhances the ability to provide outreach clinics to remote areas
• Telehealth can reduce the need for patients to travel therefore increasing customer satisfaction with health access and provision
• Telehealth increases access to healthcare in remote regions including Aboriginal communities and partnerships with Aboriginal health services
• Telehealth has the potential to improve mental health outcomes by increasing patient contact with health services and increase support for home based and community-based interventions
• Telehealth can be used to support care delivery partnerships and collaboration with NGOs and other government agencies

This microsite provides informattion and resources to enable your business to deliver effective telehealth services.

Free Telehealth Software available for Primary Care Organisations

The Primary Health Network has been given access to roll out the nationwide healthdirect Video Call platform to all of its Primary Care organisations. The technology that underpins the service is purpose-built for health settings, designed to create fully secure bespoke virtual clinics and waiting areas. The healthdirect Video Call service follows the applicable Australian Government Information Security Manual for cyber security guidelines and safeguards privacy by leaving no digital footprint.

Benefits for clinicians

• Efficiency: Video consultations can be a part of a practice's usual workflow as an extension of day-to-day clinical practice
• Flexibility: Work from any location where there is a good internet connection, including from home in the after-hours period
• Cost: Save travel costs and the cost of rooms and clinic space when working remotely
• Coverage: Ability to offer services to a wider network of patients

Health benefits for patients

There are many benefits for patients, particularly those who may have to travel long distances to see a medical practitioner or have other mobility restrictions.

• Access: Provides access to quality healthcare for all people living in Australia, regardless of where they live
• Continuity of care: Outpatient follow-up appointments can be maintained with more consistency due to convenient and simple access to clinicians
• Holistic health: Local health professionals, such as a nurse, Aboriginal health worker or GP, can be with the patient on the call and can check blood pressure, read through test results or ask the specialist questions
• Confidence: Reliable, secure system built for health consultations

If you are interested in registering for access to the healthdirect Video Call service, please contact telehealth@hneccphn.com.au