460 - Innovative models of care: Digital Advice & Guidance with Consultmed
In this episode of Talking HealthTech, the conversation centred around the pursuit of a more efficient and integrated healthcare system in Australia.?
Peter Birch speaks with A/Prof Vikram Palit , CEO of consultmed , Dr Philip Tong , CEO of DermScreen, and patient advocate Rosie Wilson , to dissect the current challenges and potential technological solutions that could transform healthcare access and delivery in Australia.
Healthcare System Deficiencies and Patient Challenges
Australia's healthcare system, despite its many strengths, can sometimes fall short in providing timely and efficient care, pushing patients like Rosie to seek alternative avenues for healthcare information. Rosie, who moved from New Zealand, shares a poignant account of the difficulties she encountered, including long wait times to see a psychiatrist and outdated communication methods like fax machines . Faced with long wait times and outdated processes, patients often find themselves distressed and seeking alternative solutions.
Innovative Solutions in Dermatology and Mental Health
DermScreen is an initiative in dermatology that leverages technology to improve patient care. This initiative shows how digital platforms can expedite specialist care and aid primary healthcare providers. Utilising technology in dermatology allows them to provide clinical services efficiently and supports primary care providers in seeking specialist advice without the need for extensive travel.
Such systems, especially in high-volume specialty services like mental health , could prevent unnecessary referrals and hospital visits, reducing the strain on healthcare resources and improving patient outcomes.?
Advice & Guidance: A Game-Changer for Primary Care
Consultmed’s Advice & Guidance platform allows GPs to access real-time specialist advice, ensuring quicker patient care and enhancing the learning experience for general practitioners. Integrating Advice & Guidance systems within primary health networks is beneficial and essential for elevating the quality of care. The platform facilitates faster patient care and offers GPs an educational component, allowing them to accrue CPD points.
For Rosie, such a system could have mitigated the inefficiencies she faced in obtaining specialist advice. The reliance on outdated communication methods only compounded her frustration and delay in receiving necessary care. The successful pilot of DermScreen is evidence of the viability and effectiveness of these systems in other areas of healthcare.
The Role of Technology in Reducing Wait Times and Hospital Visits
Technology holds the key to mitigating many of the inefficiencies currently plaguing the healthcare system. With platforms like the Advice & Guidance model, specialists ' recommendations can be obtained promptly, reducing the dependence on hospital visits and extensive waiting periods. Consultmed’s partnerships with healthcare giants like Alfred Health and Silverchain help scale these solutions more broadly across the healthcare landscape. By collaborating with established healthcare providers, they can extend the benefits of the platform, ensuring that more patients receive timely and efficient care.
Rosie’s personal account emphasises the critical nature of this transformation. She discusses how delayed care and inefficient referral processes affected her mental health journey and how quicker access to specialist advice could have alleviated much of her stress and frustration. This reinforces the importance of integrating supportive technology to streamline care and reduce patient wait times.
Partnerships and Scaling the System
For the Advice & Guidance model to have the broadest impact, partnerships with established healthcare providers are essential. Collaborations with organisations like DermScreen, Alfred Health, and Silverchain are crucial for scaling the Consultmed system. These partnerships help integrate the platform into existing infrastructures, ensuring that its benefits are realised on a larger scale. By fostering relationships with key players in the healthcare sector, the platform can extend its reach and enhance its effectiveness.
Scaling solutions requires technological innovation and a strategic approach to implementation . Ensuring that healthcare providers are onboard and well-equipped to utilise these platforms is essential for success. These partnerships also provide valuable feedback for continuous improvement, helping to adapt and refine the system based on real-world applications.
The Educational Component: Enhancing GP Knowledge
Another key advantage of the Advice & Guidance model is its educational component. By providing real-time feedback and learning opportunities, these platforms contribute to the continued professional development of GPs. This is particularly important in a rapidly evolving medical landscape where staying updated with the latest advancements and best practices is crucial. Education and continuous learning are pillars of effective primary care and are greatly supported by the technology-driven Advice & Guidance platform.
Through the accumulation of CPD points and exposure to specialist advice, general practitioners can enhance their expertise, leading to improved patient management and outcomes. This model benefits immediate patient care and builds a more competent and knowledgeable primary care workforce.
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A Patient’s Perspective: The Need for Timely Care
Rosie’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact that systemic inefficiencies can have on patients' lives. Her struggle with long wait times, the need to restart processes despite having previous medical documentation, and the general frustration of dealing with outdated communication methods underscore the urgency for reform. The emotional and psychological toll of delayed care and inefficient referral processes can be significant.
Timely access to specialists is not just a convenience but a necessity that can significantly influence treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. By adopting technology that facilitates quicker access and streamlined processes, the healthcare system can better serve its patients, reducing stress and improving overall health outcomes.
Looking Ahead: Prospects for Healthcare Innovation
The conversation between Pete, Vikram, Phil, and Rosie paints an optimistic picture of the future of healthcare in Australia. The potential for technology to bridge gaps in care and offer more streamlined and efficient processes is immense. The future of healthcare lies in embracing innovation and integrating technology to enhance patient care and provider efficiency.
By embracing technology and working together, healthcare providers can create a more integrated and efficient system, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for patients. As these digital solutions gain traction, the hope is that patients across Australia will benefit from more timely, effective, and coordinated care.
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