The use of Telehealth and digital health is a game changer for access in rural communities. However we need to intergrate this modality within rural health services so that it adds value and doesn’t replace rural workforce because it is the easier path
Access
The desire to use Telehealth more to increase access to services and decrease cost and time lost in travel is rapidly increasing. We need to make mobile coverage and bandwidth more affordable for country communities and increase MBS Item numbers to support Telehealth service delivery.
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
10 people like this recommendation
Comments: 1
All Australians have a human right to high quality palliative care. Following the release of the National Palliative Care Strategy (2018) there needs to be a commitment and investment in ensuring Australians living in rural and remote locations can remain on country for the majority of their... more
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
9 people like this recommendation
Comments: 0
Mechanisms, including funding support, for localised coordination of health workforce recruitment and retention strategies could be important for greater cooperation (less competitive organisational behaviour) and longer term / sustained models of care responding to community need
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
6 people like this recommendation
Comments: 1
Strong evidence exists that a range of health interactions can safely and effectively be provided utilising Telehealth. Access for community members to quality care and future health models requires a fundamental shift in funding paradigms to support growth of Telehealth capability. It is... more
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
5 people like this recommendation
Comments: 1
A holistic approach be taken by all parties to address the identified barriers to Telehealth access:
Barriers to telehealth:
- Inadequate internet service and data allowances.
-Unreliable telecommunications and equipment.
-Consultations not being billable to Medicare (... more
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
4 people like this recommendation
Comments: 0
The National Disability Insurance Scheme has created significant gaps in 'thin provider' areas, leading to decreased opportunity for therapy and continuity in care for clients forced into a private, market based system where providers are not present.
Clients with a disability... more
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
4 people like this recommendation
Comments: 1
Community pharmacies are a frequent source of contact for people living in rural and remote communities. The pharmacist and pharmacy staff have strong connections with communities.
The PBS is a single source and service. There are a whole range of services by which the pharmacy is... more
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
4 people like this recommendation
Comments: 0
Support and funding for Primary Health Care Nurse led cancer screening programs that incorporate innovative models, such as Community Engagement Workers, to improve access to target populations. Take the screening to them through culturally safe approaches.
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
4 people like this recommendation
Comments: 0
We recommend the ongoing expansion of the provision of renal services in rural and remote communities, and implementing new services such as the mobile dialysis units - this service is cost-effective and has social and cultural benefits.
* This is a Submitted Paper Recommendation
3 people like this recommendation
Comments: 0
The rural health deficit will not be improved by applying one-size-fits-all policies and funding mechanisms that were designed through a metropolitan lens.
We call for differential rural and remote health policy that allows for pooling of funding in areas of market failure (or MM3 and... more
* This is a Delegate Recommendation
3 people like this recommendation
Comments: 0