A GP’s perspective on tele-health in Australia

 15-Dec-14, AFP

In 2011, initial telehealth videoconference incentives were generous and many clinicians took up the offer. Three years later, the implementation of telehealth videoconferencing has been inconsistent and patchy, yet to be normalised as part of primary care practice.

In part, this has been associated with restrictive item numbers, disallowing general practitioner (GP)-to-patient and associated professional access, and exclusion of metropolitan clinicians. Other aspects are a lack of clarity for clinicians in the appropriate use of telehealth, and economic and technological concerns.

Image: AFP

Rural health professionals should be valued for their knowledge, skills and experience. Videoconference-based telehealth provides an opportunity for those clinicians to be the hands, eyes and ears of remote specialist clinicians. Building trust and capacity of remote clinicians can improve recruitment and retention to traditionally difficult-to-fill posts.

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