WA Primary Health Alliance has commissioned telehealth technology provider Visionflex to deploy telehealth carts to residential aged care homes (RACHs) to connect GPs and other health care providers to patients living in these facilities across WA.
This technology is expected to improve access for RACH residents to primary care services, reduce travel time for health care professionals, facilitate better management of chronic conditions, increase early intervention, and potentially decrease hospital admissions, especially in the after-hours period.
The telehealth carts are equipped with a video call platform and Bluetooth-enabled devices including pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, digital stethoscope with headphones, and a high-definition examination camera. The platform allows clinicians to live monitor residents’ vital signs and manage imaging for wounds and skin conditions, with data integration into practice management software and uploaded to My Health Record.
Approximately 150 RACHs have expressed interest in securing equipment to enhance their resident’s health care experience. It is expected that the first 75 carts will be delivered and in use within the next four months. Enquiries about the telehealth carts and rollout can be sent to RACFTelehealthandAfterhours@wapha.org.au.