Telehealth Seems To Be Something Of A Hit With Docs And Patients.

 A couple of surveys on Telehealth have appeared this week. First we have:

GPs have embraced telehealth, survey finds

RACGP survey results from July show GPs and patients are seeing the benefits of telehealth consultations – but there is room for improvement.

Anastasia Tsirtsakis

06 Aug 2020

GPs who use video said they find it to be more personal, it helps them in assessing the patient, and that it aids them in undertaking a physical examination.

Since telehealth was rapidly unrolled in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, GPs have proven their ability to adapt – as have patients. 
 
Among more than 420 GPs surveyed by the RACGP, one in five respondents reported that 61–80% of their patients have requested a telehealth consultation.
 
While the majority of GPs opt for the telephone when undertaking a telehealth consultation, more than half (54%) of those surveyed had used video at least once.
 
GPs who use video said they find it to be more personal (19%), it helps them in assessing the patient (26%), and that it aids them in undertaking a physical examination (18%).
 
The most common types of video consultations undertaken are standard consultations, follow-up consultations, prescriptions, referrals, and for mental health.
 
Dr Steven Kaye, a GP and Deputy Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee on Practice Technology and Management, said it is positive to see GPs transforming the way they operate and adopting video technology.
 
‘We campaigned so strongly for the expansion of telehealth and telephone consultations for good reason,’ he said.
 
‘These services allow patients with a variety of health conditions to talk on the phone or via online platforms with their GP while minimising the risk of transmitting or spreading the COVID-19 virus.’
 
A survey of more than 1100 GPs conducted by the RACGP in April showed more than 99% are offering consultations via video or telephone.
 
That survey also found that almost 97% of practices are still offering face-to-face consultations, providing patients with flexible access options to seek the care they need.
 
However, a June survey of more than 700 Australians revealed 32% of respondents had delayed or avoided seeing their GP in the previous three months due to fears of contracting COVID-19.
 
While the trend started to reverse with the easing of restrictions, there are fears patients may again put off seeing their GP as metropolitan Melbourne faces even harsher restrictions.
 
While patient concerns are understandable, Dr Kaye cautioned against delaying care. 
 
‘GPs from across Australia have reported significant drops in patient numbers. We must reverse this trend immediately,’ he said.
 
Lots more here:

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/gps-have-embraced-telehealth-survey-finds

There was also this survey.

Patients prefer their own GP for telehealth

Nationwide survey shows 95% booked a non-face-to-face consult with a practice they'd been to before

5th August 2020

By Heather Saxena

When it comes to telehealth, patients like to consult with their regular GP, a new survey has found.

Nearly all (95%) patients who booked a telehealth consult between April and June had been to the practice before. 

And one quarter booked a follow-up appointment at the same practice, according to the research by HealthEngine.

The results are based on data from nearly 220,000 telehealth appointments at 730 practices and 496 patient surveys.

Other findings showed some 59% of patients turned to telehealth to avoid COVID-19.

Most patients booked a telehealth consult with a clinic within 4km of their home.

However, one patient booked an appointment with a GP 3836km away. The patient was in Carnarvon, WA, and the doctor in Brisbane, Qld.

The vast majority of consults were by phone and nearly all patients (97%) said the telehealth process was easy to understand.

But 15% of patients surveyed said they would prefer a video consultation.

More information: Read the full report

Here is the link:

https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/patients-prefer-their-own-gp-telehealth

Between these two surveys we get quite a good idea as to what is going on out there now. What will be interesting to see what impact is sustained in the long term for the use of telehealth and how much migration we see over time to the use of video rather than telephone.

The impact of GPs income and viability is also of interest I believe.

Look forward to progress reports.

David.