MORE than a third of seniors already using telehealth services are doing so for increased speed and convenience, and 45 per cent are using them to better manage their personal or family health.
NBN Co research found 21 per cent of over-60s using telehealth were video chatting with their doctor or health professional, and a quarter were using it to find out about other patients’ experiences of procedures or illnesses.
About 70 per cent of people delayed visiting a GP, with 28 per cent of those doing so because of waiting room delays and another 29 per cent because they were not sure if they needed to go.
About one in five people were likely to go online to find out more about their symptoms before seeing a doctor. Sydney GP Ginni Mansberg said telehealth could be as simple as accessing reputable online information sources or video chatting with grandchildren to boost family connections and quality of life, or as complex as in-home monitoring of things such as blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
For older people, particularly in regional areas, it could reduce trips to the doctor and help adult children provide support even when they couldn’t be there. “Older people are a diverse group and if you look at what this current generation wants in their post-retirement years, there’s a focus not just on long life but on quality of life,” Dr Mansberg said.
“They are also quite focused on staying at home.”
She said managing weight, particularly for people with conditions such as arthritis, was one example of an area where online programs could prove effective.
“My patients email me their blood pressure when we’re monitoring their health,” she said.
“Mental health is another area where you don’t have to be face to face to get good results. We have really good evidence for effective online programs to help people with anxiety and depression now, and I refer people to these a lot in my practice.”
Among telehealth advances already well under way are a mobile phone-based cardiac rehabilitation program and a remote eye care app. The Care Assessment Platform, developed by the CSIRO and Queensland Health, allows patients to use a phone app to monitor data including blood pressure and physical activity, and view educational material, following up through weekly phone calls with a mentor.
The Remote-I app, also developed by the CSIRO, captures high-resolution images of the retina for remote patients that can be analysed by city practitioners, who can then determine the need for a live consultation.
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Thumbs-up from Gary
MELTON man Gary Thomas, 61, says using online tutorials has helped improve his health after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
However, he warns it’s important to check that the sites you use are reputable. “About six months ago I had a blood test and was diagnosed by my doctor,” he said. “I started to do some checks on the Diabetes Victoria and Diabetes Australia sites to find out about a healthy lifestyle.”
He also used the sites to find out about and buy a finger-prick test in case his condition progresses.
“It’s fantastic,” he said of the health resources available online.
“It keeps you abreast of all the information out there, but you just don’t take on everything out there as gospel – it’s important to make sure you’re using reputable sites to get your information.”
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Where to look
DR Mansberg’s top telehealth apps include:
Ehealth.gov.au – an official electronic summary of your health records that allows healthcare providers to access key information, which can be crucial in providing treatment.
Healthvault.com – allows families to store health records, keep up to date on immunisations, allergies and have information available to help manage family health.
Cvdcheck.org.au – the ultimate evidence-based cardiovascular disease check-up created by Diabetes Australia, the National Heart Foundation of Australia, Kidney Health Australia and the National Stroke Foundation. It includes a downloadable risk calculator, and resources for consumers and health professionals.
For mental health issues, Dr Mansberg recommends sites including:
Ecouch.anu.edu.au – free self-help units for sufferers of depression and anxiety, as well as people going through divorce and bereavement.
PanicCentre.net – a free program consisting of interactive games and downloadable relaxation music. n Moodgym – designed to help people make sense of thoughts and emotions and prevent depression.
Smilingmind.com.au – an app-based program that aims to give a sense of calm and contentment to young people.
Other reliable sources of information include sites hosted by health peak bodies including Diabetes Australia (www.diabetesaustralia.com.au), the National Heart Foundation (www.heartfoundation.org.au), the Cancer Council (www.cancer.org.au) and Alzheimer’s Australia (www.fightdementia.org.au).
