By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
HOME-based doctor’s consultations, tele-exercise routines and virtual district nurse visits are all on the agenda once Geelong is connected to the National Broadband Network.
NBNCo’s Dr Kate Cornick visited the city this week to reveal the trends and opportunities in E-health and tele-health for Geelong’s transitioning economy.
As the general manager tasked with developing NBN’s health and education capabilities, Dr Cornick said she wanted to see tele-health “come to fruition”.
The Independent reported three weeks ago that health industry leaders saw an opportunity for Geelong to become a national and international centre of excellence in trauma care, rehabilitation and injury management.
“There are definitely some exciting developments in applications that will relieve the burden on the health system,” Dr Cornick said.
“Gaming console technology can be used to support older people, for example through exercise classes.
“As we face the issues of the chronic disease burden and ageing, E-health and tele-health can offer solutions.
“It allows medical practitioners to monitor the health of chronic patient’s health and step in before an incident occurs.”
Dr Cornick said the major transformation over the next two decades would be in the home, including intuitive iPad and touch-screen technology.
“The applications will become more user friendly and simple and people will become increasingly confident in using it as they become more digitally astute.”
Barwon Medicare Local chief Jason Trethowan said the region was well-placed to take advantage of high-speed broadband.
“More and more of our region’s general practitioners have the facilities for tele-health, which will have a significant impact for rural patients especially,” Mr Trethowan said.
More than 300,000 secure digital messages had been sent between participating health care providers across the region using Barwon Medicare Local’s Referral-Net, he said.
The system enabled doctors, public and private hospitals and specialists to securely exchange patient information.
Mr Trethowan said a new initiative was investigating the provision of software to aged care facilities to enable clients to access tele-health to local doctors.
