Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
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Another week were all sorts of Digital Health initiatives were stood up or promised ‘real soon now’! The COVID-19 issue seems to have become all consuming as we all bunker down for an unknown length of time. Would be really good to know how long this all has to run. I fear it will take a good deal longer than we all think sadly.
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Australian Digital Health Agency reveals two 'probable' instances of Medicare fraud
The My Health Record system operator said it was 'probable' that on two occasions the federal government's myGov portal was used to conduct Medicare fraud.
In its annual report, the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), the agency responsible for oversight of My Health Record, revealed a handful of occurrences where the security of the contentious medical records system was compromised.
The report, published in November, revealed there were 38 matters reported to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) during the year concerning potential unauthorised access, security, or integrity breaches.
37 of these matters were counted as breaches, and the ADHA said most were the result of administrative errors such as "intertwined" Medicare records or processing errors when creating records for infants.
Three involved the unauthorised access to an individual's My Health Record. One of the unauthorised access incidents was the result of the incorrect parent being assigned to a child.
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Nearly 23 million Aussies have a My Health Record, but only 13 million are using it
The online medical file has around 1.8 billion documents in it.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has once again allocated praise to the country's online medical file, touting that the number of people with a My Health Record sits at 22.71 million.
Although that number is near 23 million, and Australia's population was nearly 25.5 million as at 30 September 2019, the number of people that are actually using the bungled electronic record is only 13.6 million.
In announcing Australia was rushing through its electronic prescription service on Tuesday, ADHA said My Health Record already makes "critical health information available when it's most needed".
"In Australia, evidence shows there are more than 250,000 hospital admissions annually as a result of medication-related problems. Many of these are associated with poor availability of medicines information especially at transitions of care," it said.
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Thursday, 09 April 2020 12:42
COVID 19: My Health Record using technology to deliver social distancing for healthcare
The My Health Record digital health program says technology is poised to further help Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic through electronic prescriptions that will allow people convenient access to their medicines to people practising social distancing and self-isolation.
My Health Record says this new development will complement its service “which is already making critical health information available when it’s most needed”.
According to My Health Record, in Australia, evidence shows there are more than 250,000 hospital admissions annually as a result of medication related problems, and many of these are associated with poor availability of medicines information especially at transitions of care.
The agency says it is improving this access to medicines information and is an integrated record of what medicines patients are taking to ensure the most safe and effective care.
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Media release - Technology delivers social distancing for healthcare in fight against COVID-19
8 April 2020: Technology is poised to further help Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic through electronic prescriptions that will allow people convenient access to their medicines to people practising social distancing and self-isolation. This new development will complement the My Health Record which is already making critical health information available when it’s most needed.
In Australia, evidence shows there are more than 250,000 hospital admissions annually as a result of medication related problems. Many of these are associated with poor availability of medicines information especially at transitions of care. My Health Record is improving this access to medicines information and is an integrated record of what medicines patients are taking to ensure the most safe and effective care.
The My Health Record system has 1.81 billion documents in it including: prescription and dispense information, Pharmacist Shared Medicines Lists, medical history, allergies, pathology and diagnostic imaging test results and immunisations, as well as hospital discharge summaries.
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Electronic prescriptions in Australia to be available at end of May
The fast-tracked rollout is one of the measures announced by the federal government amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
By Asha Barbaschow | April 8, 2020 -- 06:44 GMT (16:44 AEST) | Topic: Coronavirus: Business and technology in a pandemic
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has announced that preparations are being made to enable Australians to access electronic prescriptions by the end of next month.
"A significant amount of work had already been done to ensure that necessary upgrades to both pharmacy and prescriber software can be done quickly and electronic prescriptions are expected to be progressively available from the end of May," the ADHA said.
The decision to fast-track the availability of electronic prescriptions, which was one of the measures announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in early March, was made to help the nation battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fast-tracked solution would see a unique QR barcode token sent via an app, SMS, or email to the patient.
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Adverse events from pharmacy vaccinations to be tracked in real time
SmartVax founder Dr Alan Leeb wants to give pharmacists the same ability as GPs to get involved in surveillance
9th April 2020
Adverse events resulting from pharmacy-led vaccinations are to be tracked for the first time through a real-time surveillance system.
The rapid expansion of vaccinations administered by pharmacists over the past five years across all states and territories has raised questions about safety monitoring.
Last month, the Pharmaceutical Society of WA took matters into its own hands and announced it was funding a trial of the SmartVax safety surveillance program.
The pilot will cover vaccinations administered at 30 pharmacies in WA, with the aim of rolling it out nationally in future.
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Apple, Google to track virus with phones
· Deutsche Presse Agentur
Apple and Google launched a major joint effort to leverage smartphone technology to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
New software the companies plan to add to phones would make it easier to use Bluetooth wireless technology to track down people for who may have been infected by coronavirus carriers.
The idea is to help national or regional governments roll out apps for so-called "contact tracing" that will run on iPhones and Android phones alike.
The technology works by harnessing short-range Bluetooth signals. Using the Apple-Google technology, contact-tracing apps would gather a record of other phones with which they came into close proximity.
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Coronavirus: Apple, Google collaboration to track virus via bluetooth raises concerns
A ground breaking partnership between Apple and Google underlines competition and privacy concerns raised attempts to combat the coronavirus.
Apple and Google have announced they are working on an application which would tell you that someone you have been in contact with has tested positive for the virus.
The bluetooth model works only if you and the person infected have agreed to be part of the service but even US President Donald Trump has raised the privacy concerns.
He said on Friday “a lot of people worry about it in terms of a person’s freedom”, adding it was very interesting and he would take a close look at it.
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Telehealth: support for the Australian health system
Tuesday, 31 March, 2020
The Australian Government has announced several new temporary bulk billing items — including expansions to telehealth services — that have been created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continued access to essential Medicare rebated consultation services.
As of 30 March 2020 these items have become general in nature and have no relation to diagnosing, treating or suspecting COVID-19 to allow providers to continue to deliver essential healthcare services to patients in their care. The MBS telehealth items are available to GPs, medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, participating midwives and allied health providers.
Videoconference services are the preferred approach for substituting a face-to-face consultation; however, providers can offer audio-only services via telephone if video is not available.
Services can be provided through widely available video calling apps and software such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Duo, GoToMeeting and others.
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6 April 2020
Private telehealth billing now allowed for most patients
GPs can now privately bill telehealth consultations after another change to Medicare rules.
In a webinar update for GPs today, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said patients with concession cards, those under 16 and those who were especially vulnerable to COVID-19 would still have to be bulk-billed.
The vulnerable patients are those who are pregnant or have small babies, who have a chronic disease or are immunocompromised, or are over 70 or Indigenous and over 50.
The bulk-billing incentive would be doubled for concessions and under-16s.
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7 April 2020
How one clinic is pivoting to telehealth
As COVID-19 case numbers climb, rheumatologist Dr Irwin Lim’s waiting rooms are emptier than they’ve ever been, but the practice is being inundated with patient enquiries by phone and email.
Over the past few weeks, Dr Lim’s Western Sydney-based practice, called BJC Health, has been “pivoting at speed” towards telehealth.
“On Tuesday [31 March], I saw 37 patients and 36 by telehealth,” Dr Lim, who is also editor of TMR sister publication Rheumatology Republic, said.
“The whole aim is to keep patients away to keep them and my staff safe, so whoever we can convert to telehealth, we are converting.
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Govt ends mandatory bulk-billing for GP telehealth - but there's a catch
Private billing is allowed for the temporary MBS items unless patients are concession card holders or deemed 'susceptible' to COVID-19
7th April 2020
GPs can now charge private fees for Medicare-funded phone and video consults, but bulk-billing will remain mandatory for millions of patients, including those with chronic conditions and parents with young children.
The Department of Health says that as of this Monday, private billing will be allowed for the dozens of temporary telehealth items added to the MBS to combat coronavirus.
The Department of Health says that as of this Monday, private billing will be allowed for the dozens of temporary telehealth items added to the MBS to combat coronavirus.
But patients with concession cards or aged under 16 will have to be bulk-billed, along with those deemed by Medicare to be ‘more susceptible’ to COVID-19.
This includes all patients under treatment for a chronic health condition, anyone with an immune deficiency and expectant mothers.
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RACGP on telehealth: An old fashioned phone is perfectly fine
RACGP
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging patients to embrace telehealth and telephone consultations with their GP.
A little over a week ago the Federal Government announced the expansion of Medicare-subsidised telehealth and telephone services for all Australians to help combat COVID-19.
It now applies to GP services and some consultation services provided by other medical specialists, nurse practitioners, mental health treatment, chronic disease management, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments, services to people with eating disorders, pregnancy support counselling, services to patients in aged care facilities, children with autism, and after-hours consultations.
The changes followed strong advocacy from the RACGP for this Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item to apply more broadly to cover all types of patients who need to speak to their GP.
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RACGP releases practical telehealth flowchart guide
The new resource is designed to assist GPs grappling with issues presented by the rapid rollout of telehealth.
08 Apr 2020
Aside from providing practical steps GPs can take when setting up a practice for telehealth, the guide also details what is required before, during and after telephone and video consultations.
The information is presented in the form of two flowcharts and Dr Rob Hosking, Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Practice Technology and Management (REC–PTM), told newsGP the recently produced document is invaluable for all GPs, regardless of their telehealth experience.
‘They’re very useful for people who are wanting to follow a process and make sure they’re not missing something in the way they’re handling telephone and video consultations,’ he said.
‘Most people are already doing telehealth consultations, but they might want to refer to these flowcharts to see whether they are doing it to the best of their ability and not missing anything.
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The information is presented in the form of two flowcharts and Dr Rob Hosking, Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Practice Technology and Management (REC–PTM), told newsGP the recently produced document is invaluable for all GPs, regardless of their telehealth experience.
‘They’re very useful for people who are wanting to follow a process and make sure they’re not missing something in the way they’re handling telephone and video consultations,’ he said.
‘Most people are already doing telehealth consultations, but they might want to refer to these flowcharts to see whether they are doing it to the best of their ability and not missing anything.
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9 April 2020
Telehealth billing restrictions cause financial pain
Earlier this week, the federal government announced that gap payments could be charged for telehealth appointments – but that patients with chronic health conditions would still have to be bulk billed.
The announcement has brought relief to many practices that have seen face-to-face appointments all but evaporate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it provided cold comfort for rheumatologists who are struggling with the sudden loss of income.
“As it currently stands, the lifting of restrictions to bulk-bill the COVID-19 telehealth item numbers are not going to be very helpful for rheumatologists, because it comes with huge caveats,” said Dr Irwin Lim, a Sydney-based rheumatologist, director of BJC Health and the editor of Rheumatology Republic.
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What does electronic prescribing mean for GPs in the fight against coronavirus?
GPs can now send prescriptions to pharmacists electronically as an interim solution during the pandemic.
07 Apr 2020
The interim measure allows GPs to send prescriptions electronically to pharmacists without having to mail out a physical copy.
‘This is a vital part of the puzzle to enable GPs to continue providing the same quality care to their patients via telehealth as they do face to face.’
RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon has hailed the Federal Government’s response to strong lobbying by the college as a ‘breakthrough’ for GPs in the fight against coronavirus.
As part of the COVID-19 National Health Plan telehealth model, the new interim measure allows GPs to send prescriptions electronically to pharmacists without having to mail out a physical copy of the original paper prescription with a GP’s wet-ink signature.
RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon has hailed the Federal Government’s response to strong lobbying by the college as a ‘breakthrough’ for GPs in the fight against coronavirus.
As part of the COVID-19 National Health Plan telehealth model, the new interim measure allows GPs to send prescriptions electronically to pharmacists without having to mail out a physical copy of the original paper prescription with a GP’s wet-ink signature.
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E-prescriptions fast-tracked amid coronavirus crisis
GPs will be able to generate electronic scripts in a matter of weeks, says the Australian Digital Health Agency
9th April 2020
Electronic prescriptions will be rushed in from as early as next month, as part of the Federal Government’s COVID-19 health plan.
Under the solution being fast-tracked, patients will receive their prescription via a unique QR code sent via an app, or by SMS or email to share with their pharmacy, the Australian Digital Health Agency has announced.
“A significant amount of work had already been done to ensure that necessary upgrades to both pharmacy and prescriber software can be done quickly and electronic prescriptions are expected to be progressively available from the end of May,” it said in a statement.
“This will allow people in self-isolation convenient access to their medicines and will lessen the risk of infection being spread in general practice waiting rooms and at community pharmacies.”
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New ‘living’ clinical guidelines to provide up-to-the-minute coronavirus recommendations
GPs and other healthcare workers will now have access to a single source of trusted clinical advice at the click of a button.
06 Apr 2020
The world-first guideline recommendations – Caring for people with COVID-19: Supporting Australia’s healthcare professionals with continually updated, evidence-based clinical guidelines – have been developed by the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce (the taskforce) comprised of experts from Australia’s peak health bodies, including the RACGP.
Associate Professor Julian Elliott, Head of Clinical Research in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Alfred Hospital and Monash University, and Senior Research Fellow at Cochrane Australia, is Chair of the taskforce.
He told newsGP there is urgent need to arm Australia’s healthcare professionals with evidence-based guidance amid the current pandemic.
‘What I’m hearing from a lot of my clinical colleagues is that there’s just an overwhelming amount of information and it’s very difficult for people to keep up even in the best of times, let alone how busy everyone is now,’ Associate Professor Elliott said.
Associate Professor Julian Elliott, Head of Clinical Research in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Alfred Hospital and Monash University, and Senior Research Fellow at Cochrane Australia, is Chair of the taskforce.
He told newsGP there is urgent need to arm Australia’s healthcare professionals with evidence-based guidance amid the current pandemic.
‘What I’m hearing from a lot of my clinical colleagues is that there’s just an overwhelming amount of information and it’s very difficult for people to keep up even in the best of times, let alone how busy everyone is now,’ Associate Professor Elliott said.
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Thursday, 09 April 2020 12:47
COVID 19: Google Cloud launches virtual agent support program
Google Cloud has launched a virtual agent support program designed to help healthcare, public health, and non-profit industries quickly build and deploy chatbots that can help serve their customers who are looking for information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Google Cloud, as COVID-19 has spread globally, people are turning to governments, healthcare organisations, and other businesses with questions about their health and wellness, finances, and more - and this sudden, unprecedented demand is putting strain on customer support resources, and many organisations are “telling us that they’re struggling to respond to customers effectively during this critical time”.
“If your organisation is facing these challenges, you can respond to your customers’ questions related to COVID-19 and your business with Contact Center AI, which can provide a first line of response through 24/7 conversational self-service support via chat or over the phone, says Google.
“As speed is especially important, we’ve launched the Rapid Response Virtual Agent program, a quick way to get up and running with Contact Center AI.
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NSW govt, ANZ trial national one-stop death notification service
Matches data against new national registry database.
The NSW government has begun piloting a new service that will eventually allows citizens to notify government agencies and other organisations across Australia when a family member or friend passes away.
Customer service minister Victor Dominello took to social media on Tuesday to kick off the first pilot of the national death notification service with ANZ Banking Group to simplify the process of dealing with deceased estates.
The beta service has been developed by the Department of Customer Service in collaboration with Births, Deaths and Marriages agencies across Australia to remove the need for individuals to visit an ANZ branch to settle accounts.
It is ultimately intended to transition into a fully-fledged 'tell us once' service that allows citizens to notify government agencies, financial institutions, utilities and other subscription-based services when a person dies.
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WA to electronically track COVID-19 patients who defy isolation orders
Police get $3m for GPS devices.
The WA government will spend $3 million on GPS monitoring devices to help police track citizens who flout directions to quarantine or self-isolate at home.
Premier Mark McGowan announced the new funding on Wednesday as part of a $91 million package to support government measures to reduce the spread of the pandemic.
WA Police will use the $3 million funding to acquire 200 GPS-enabled ankle bracelets, according to 7 News.
The devices will expand police tracking and tracing capabilities beyond high-risk offenders, repeat domestic violence abusers and people on bail.
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Virtual reality shows damage to COVID-19 patient's lungs
Thoracic surgeon releases 360-degree video of viral attack
6th April 2020
A doctor in the US has released a dramatic virtual reality video (below) demonstrating the diffuse damage caused by COVID-19 to a patient’s lungs.
The man, in his late 50s, was transferred to George Washington University Hospital, in Washington DC, on 18 March.
With a history significant only for hypertension, the patient presented already intubated and on a mechanical ventilator after his initial symptoms of fever, cough and dyspnoea rapidly progressed, and he required further support.
"That was when the outside hospital reached out to our expert team here at GW, and the patient was transferred to us for something called ECMO, which stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation,” explained Dr Keith Mortman, chief of thoracic surgery at George Washington University Hospital, in an interview for the hospital’s podcast.
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Dancing TikTok doctor spreads COVID-19 message
Dr Jason Campbell introduces an alternative to the handshake
3rd April 2020
Meet the TikTok dancing doc who's busting a few dance moves, spreading a message about social distancing, and boosting spirits around the world.
Dr Jason Campbell, 31, is a resident at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), US, whose Twitter, Instagram and TikTok posts have been viewed by millions.
With the department of anaesthesiology and perioperative medicine at OHSU, he pushes a message of positivity, preparedness and social responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic — through the medium of dance.
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G Medical receives US over-the-counter authorisation for Prizma smartphone health monitor
April 8, 2020
Mobile and e-Health company G Medical Innovations Holdings (ASX: GMV) has been granted over-the-counter authorisation for its Prizma medical smartphone case by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The authorisation allows the device to be sold in the US as an over the counter item without the need for a prescription and was based on the nation’s COVID-19 public health emergency policy.
Prizma allows consumers to turn their smartphone into a mobile medical monitor to measure a range of vital signs including temperature, heart rate, stress levels and blood oxygen saturation which can be used to detect symptoms associated with infection and chronic illness.
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StandingTall app set to prevent falls
Wednesday, 01 April, 2020
Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and digital development partner The Project Factory have launched StandingTall — a new digital application designed to support and strengthen physical balance and cognition in the ageing population.
The iOS and web-based application has begun its implementation trial across NSW and Victoria, encompassing two exercise programs — pure balance and dual-task training — which include over 2000 exercises designed to prevent falls in older people.
“Fall-related injuries are the leading cause of hospitalisation among Australians aged 65 and over,” said senior NeuRA researcher Associate Professor Kim Delbaere, whose team designed the program.
“StandingTall aims to reduce this risk by using the latest findings in neuroscience to train people’s balance, increase their confidence and improve their overall health.”
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Tech highlights lung tumours for better removal
Thursday, 02 April, 2020
A groundbreaking technology that enhances lung cancer tissue is providing surgeons with a significantly better chance of finding and removing more cancer than ever before.
Near-infrared imaging with OTL38 during surgery for lung cancer is a promising technology, with the potential to significantly improve the completeness and quality of tumour removal.
Dr Inderpal (Netu) S Sarkaria from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania — along with colleagues from six institutions — conducted a phase II trial in 92 patients with lung lesions who were to undergo pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Before their operations, each patient received a measured intravenous dose of OTL38, composed of near-infrared dye and a targeting molecule. The molecule attaches to folic acid-based receptors on cancer cells and can be illuminated during surgery using a special surgical endoscope. This helps identify small, hard-to-detect cancer lesions that should be surgically removed but might otherwise have been missed.
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Doctors take the lead on developing coronavirus equipment
Clinicians, like Dr Con Kolivas, a retired anaesthetist and software engineer, are using their industry and government networks to build CPAP and oxygen delivery systems
6th April 2020
Doctors are taking coronavirus solutions into their own hands, coming together with manufacturers to help address PPE shortfalls and repurpose equipment specially for the crisis.
Among the prototypes being designed is an oxygen hood tailored for COVID-19 use.
More affordable CPAP and oxygen concentrators, that could provide some hope for patients considered not suitable for ICU admission, are also in the works.
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Question: URL for #FHIR Version
Question:
Is there a URI form for specifying FHIR versions? For example, ‘r4.fhir.hl7.org‘
I see https://www.hl7.org/fhir/valueset-FHIR-version.html contains a list of numbers for versions, but I was wondering about the specific URI like form. For example, an external system that may not only interact with FHIR servers would need to use that URI to determine that: a) the server to invoke is a FHIR one; and, b) the version is r4. (this may happen before reading the capability statement in the execution workflow)
I see https://www.hl7.org/fhir/valueset-FHIR-version.html contains a list of numbers for versions, but I was wondering about the specific URI like form. For example, an external system that may not only interact with FHIR servers would need to use that URI to determine that: a) the server to invoke is a FHIR one; and, b) the version is r4. (this may happen before reading the capability statement in the execution workflow)
Answer:
Well, we haven’t publicised it anywhere, but this URL would be the version URL:
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Digital platform supports Covid-19 contact tracing
Tuesday, 7 April 2020
eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
The Ministry of Health is using a digital platform to support contact tracing of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 and is considering use of a smartphone app to help with the task.
Speaking at the Epidemic Response Committee on 7 April, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the platform is connected to existing health databases using the National Health Index, including a database of all of the lab testing being done.
The NHI number is a unique identifier assigned to every person who uses health and disability support services.
“The tremendous advantage for New Zealand is having the National Health Index,” he said.
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NBN testing the use of mmWave spectrum over 10km distances
Government-owned wholesaler could use 26GHz and 28GHz band spectrum for fixed wireless upgrades.
The company responsible for deploying the National Broadband Network across Australia has been testing the propagation of waves using spectrum in the 26GHz and 28GHz bands across distances of around 10 kilometres.
"Our studies, and those of our technology partners provide high levels of confidence that the long-range use would allow NBN to have significant flexibility to maximise our deployment and upgrade options," NBN said in a submission to the ACCC's spectrum competition inquiry.
"This long-range approach is enabled by our unique network topology with 100% external CPEs (consumer premises equipment), and largely line of sight deployment in regional and rural areas."
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US threatens to cut off China Telecom
The US has threatened to cut off Beijing-controlled China Telecom from serving the US market because of legal and security risks, the US Justice Department announced on Thursday.
A recommendation by the government’s top departments, including Defence, State and Homeland Security, said that the Federal Communications Commission should “revoke and terminate” all authorisations for the Chinese giant’s US subsidiary, China Telecom (Americas), to provide international telecommunications services to and from the United States.
“The Executive Branch agencies identified substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks associated with China Telecom’s operations, which render the FCC authorisations inconsistent with the public interest,” the Justice Department said in a statement.
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NBN activations surge above 42,000 a week as Australia locks down
As boss blasts critics for talking down the NBN.
NBN Co has seen its weekly activation numbers surge above 42,000 premises in consecutive weeks, coinciding with more stringent lockdowns in many states and territories that have many people stuck at home.
CEO Stephen Rue highlighted the “large increase in activation orders” in a speech to the virtual CommsDay Summit on Tuesday morning.
“Recently we have seen a large increase in activation orders with more than 40,000 come in each week, as more Australians shift their work and educational needs to their home broadband service,” Rue said.
“Each new connection we make means there are more Australians and Australian businesses successfully working from home, remaining productive and providing valuable employment opportunities for the nation.
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Tuesday, 07 April 2020 10:50
NBN congestion, outages during COVID-19 at low levels, says Rue
Congestion, and outages across the National Broadband Network (NBN) have remained at low levels with no material increase compared to previous months due to increased usage across the network during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, according to NBN Co CEO Stephen Rue.
According to Rue while the increases are significant compared to the Pre-COVID-19 benchmark, they remain well within the capacity headroom built into the NBN.
“For NBN Co, our priority is to ensure that all Australians, no matter where they live or their circumstances, can connect to a high-speed, secure broadband network and continue to have access to the employment, education and entertainment opportunities that this technology enables,” he said in a speech at a Sydney business summit on Tuesday.
“I can assure you we are using all of our resources and drawing on local and overseas expertise, to help keep the nation connected, productive, educated and informed through this crisis, as well as being able to stream video on demand.”
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NBN demand ‘never been higher’
NBN network traffic has rocketed by more than 70 per cent during daytime business hours and by as much as 25 per cent in the evenings, as demand continues to rise with Australians working and studying from home.
As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps Australians indoors, the country’s broadband network is increasingly being tested.
NBN had more than 80,000 activation orders in the past fortnight, and around 20,000 orders from people wanting to upgrade their plan to a faster speed tier.
The new figures come from NBN Co Stephen Rue, who will tell the CommsDay Summit on Tuesday that network demand has never been higher.
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NBN will rise to meet COVID challenge
Stephen Rue
In these times of such uncertainty and economic disruption, it’s critically important that we don’t let the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19 take over our lives any more than it already has.
Yes, it is disruptive, and yes, it will create serious economic shocks that will reverberate through families, industries and lives – likely for many years to come.
But while COVID-19 may disrupt our way of life, we must work together – as a nation and as an industry – to ensure it doesn’t destroy our way of life.
This whole telecommunications industry is working incredibly hard right now to ensure that all Australians stay connected with their friends and loves ones, that businesses continue to operate as best they can, and that school children continue to access the vital tools, resources and lessons that they need to further their education.
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Monday, 06 April 2020 23:57
COVID-19: GPs get free telehealth services from NBNCo
Australian doctors in general practice clinics will get free delivery of enhanced telehealth services with upgrades to the system delivered by NBN Co in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The operator of the National Broadband Network says it is supporting the enhancement of telehealth services by upgrading GP clinics to 50Mbps download and 20Mbps upload connections at no extra cost for a period of six months, enabling them to deliver multiple telehealth consultations simultaneously.
The announcement by NBN Co follows the major expansion of telehealth delivery announced by the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt recently in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher has welcomed NBN Co’s decision, after the Morrison Government’s introduction of Medicare-subsidised telehealth services for all Australians.
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Daytime NBN speeds are as good or bad as usual: ACCC
ACCC expects increased usage of online services to be a coronavirus legacy.
Although the amount of data going through NBN's network has increased by 70% during the day and is still sitting below the pre-coronavirus 9 pm peak, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said speeds on the network have remained where they were before the pandemic.
ACCC chair Rod Sims said data from its Measuring Broadband Australia test units showed speeds on last Wednesday were "as good as we saw on an equivalent Wednesday in February, with performance above 80% of maximum plan speeds", in a speech delivered on Monday.
"This is not to say that there will not be pain points for individual consumers who were previously having problems, such as some FTTN and fixed wireless customers. And some will need assistance in remotely accessing their work systems or coming to grips with new applications," Sims said.
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NBN performance ‘encouraging’: ACCC chair Rod Sims
The NBN is holding up well during the day and its performance has been encouraging during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the boss of Australia's consumer watchdog Rod Sims.
Speaking to the Comms Day Summit via Zoom, Mr Sims said that despite complaints from some consumers, the ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia test – a new weekly initiative – showed daytime NBN speeds have not been impacted by people working and studying from home, and that speeds were holding up during most evenings.
“It is clear that NBN Co’s temporary boost in network capacity which allows RSPs to increase their capacity on the network by up to 40 per cent at no extra cost for three months is underpinning these encouraging results,” Mr Sims told the summit.
His message to internet providers however that some consumers still needed help to get a working NBN service, and more flexibility was needed for consumers to move to more robust plans during the pandemic, then shift back when their needs reduce.
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Telecommunication priorities during the COVID-19 crisis
04/05/2020 | 07:56pm EDT
6 April 2020
The recent data from the ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia test units are showing daytime NBN speeds have not been impacted, and speeds are holding up well on most evenings, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.
'It is clear that NBN Co.'s temporary boost in network capacity which allows RSPs to increase their capacity on the network by up to 40 per cent at no extra cost for three months is underpinning these encouraging results,' Mr Sims said.
Mr Sims was speaking via Zoom at the Comms Day Summit 2020: 'Redefining Tomorrow. Together'.
'Despite serious issues when there was a massive increase in calls to some government numbers, mobile networks are handling the increase in volume quite well,' Mr Sims said.
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Sunday, 05 April 2020 03:23
ACCC pauses inquiry on NBN pricing, wholesale service standards due to COVID-19
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced a pause on its inquiries examining both NBN entry-level access pricing and wholesale service standards, to allow the communications sector to focus on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to pause comes from the ACCC in the release of a statement on guidance on NBN access inquiries, outlining its views on wholesale access terms currently being considered by two NBN-related inquiries in position papers released on Friday.
The position papers provide the ACCC’s current views of the nature and direction of any Final Access Determination (FAD) that the ACCC may make, once circumstances stabilise.
“We have released the position papers to provide guidance for NBN Co and access seekers if they continue negotiations on new wholesale arrangements, which are due to expire later this year,” ACCC Commissioner Cristina Cifuentes said.
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NBN Co records highest ever peak throughput of 13.8Tbps
Starts publishing weekly numbers on network use.
NBN Co has revealed that data flowing through its access network peaked at 13.8Tbps last Friday at 9.15pm AEDT, about 25 percent above levels a month ago.
The company said it will now publish a weekly report as a way to publicly track demand for internet services over its network during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first report shows the download peaks seen by NBN Co at three different times of the day.
In all cases, those peaks are up between 21 percent and 30 percent in the space of a month.
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Enjoy!
David.
