This item appeared very late last week:
Telehealth demand to grow as coronavirus spreads
By Bridget Fitzgerald on PM
Download 1.38 MB
With every new case of coronavirus, the need to quarantine and contain patients becomes a top priority.
As does the need to try and prevent those infected from spreading the virus.
Health experts say the need for telehealth and digital health options will become greater as the outbreak spreads.
Duration: 3min 1sec
Broadcast:
More Information
Featured:
Dr Simon Torvaldsen, Perth GP
Dr Ali Fardinpour, founder, Wise Realities
Associate Professor Belinda Lange, Flinders University
Dr Ali Fardinpour, founder, Wise Realities
Associate Professor Belinda Lange, Flinders University
Here is the link:
As late as Thursday last week it was unclear if it was happening.
States to receive $1 billion in coronavirus funding
But uncertainty remains over GP access to more masks and new telehealth item numbers.
While welcoming the Federal Government’s new agreement with the states to fund 50% of every coronavirus-related healthcare item inside and outside of hospitals, RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said it is past time for GPs to become a central part of the overall response to coronavirus.
The Government is reportedly still considering a temporary coronavirus telehealth item number for primary care, but Dr Nespolon has called for its immediate introduction.
‘The critical need for a Medicare rebate for telehealth consultations is one of our top priorities,’ he said.
‘This is essential to support safe and appropriate care for patients with suspected COVID-19 [coronavirus], patients at the practice, and GPs providing care. Without it, general practice simply won’t have the support required to deliver these critical services.
‘Central hotline numbers are all well and good, but many, if not most, patients will still pick up the phone and call their local GP in the first instance. What we need is a model that means GPs can help a whole lot more patients, and that will help to protect patients, GPs and other staff at practices, and allow for home quarantining.’
The Government is reportedly still considering a temporary coronavirus telehealth item number for primary care, but Dr Nespolon has called for its immediate introduction.
‘The critical need for a Medicare rebate for telehealth consultations is one of our top priorities,’ he said.
‘This is essential to support safe and appropriate care for patients with suspected COVID-19 [coronavirus], patients at the practice, and GPs providing care. Without it, general practice simply won’t have the support required to deliver these critical services.
‘Central hotline numbers are all well and good, but many, if not most, patients will still pick up the phone and call their local GP in the first instance. What we need is a model that means GPs can help a whole lot more patients, and that will help to protect patients, GPs and other staff at practices, and allow for home quarantining.’
Lots more here:
I have to say I agree and it is hard to understand why the Morrison Government is not way out in front with all this.
After the issues they had with the bushfire response one wonders what the hold up is?
(Note that as of an hour before posting there did not seem to be any movement. There may have been by the time you read this!)
David.
In late breaking news we have:
In late breaking news we have:
Lachlan Moffet Gray | 12.30pm
Telehealth services set for delivery
Greg Hunt has revealed that telehealth
services, allowing for remote sessions between patients and GPs, are
currently being “designed” and will be delivered by the end of the week.
Mr
Hunt refused to comment on whether the government was looking at
increasing Newstart in the event casual workers are forced to
self-isolate if diagnosed with COVID-19 but did say industrial relations
minister Christian Porter will convene a national roundtable on Tuesday
in Sydney featuring “employers, employees, unions and government” to
discuss “all the things that are necessary and appropriate to keep our
workforce going.”
Mr Hunt also refused to condemn Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos for making comments that implied Victorian Dr Chris Higgins,
father of singer Missy Higgins, was irresponsible for treating patients
while exhibiting minor coronavirus symptoms, and later being diagnosed
with the disease.
“I’m not criticising
anybody...My view, my approach is for us to come together and to remind
people that over the coming weeks and months, we will all be connected
in some way, shape or form to people who contract the virus,” he said.
And
It does seem amazing this is still not in place. Telemedicine or at least the concept has been around for over decade. A couple of comments:
ReplyDeleteAre GP, allied health and other care giver groups able to support full throttle online consultations? Will NBN and service providers ensure bandwidth is available to meet new demand?
The Government may move quickly but that quickness is measured against a very slow moving system. As someone once said to me - you can paint it red and put stripes on it but it will never be a speedboat.
Of the $1 Billion being suggested, what is the cost to administer? Using the recent bushfires, charities where understood to cost around 10% to administer, the government I recall was said to be twice that? So that is somewhere between $100 and $200 Million in administration fees. Even allowing the 31 PHN hubs to be included that is still only $26 million on average per PHN or $30 per citizen.
It is a good start and not everything will be perfect in everyone’s eyes but we need to work together and be thankful we are not lead by a reality TV host.