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Telehealth changing the face of medical care for the isolated 12 June 2017 The number of people in country WA using telehealth for medical care has trebled in the past four years, and patients’ lives are being saved and radically transformed as a result. But WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Chief Operating Officer Strategy and Reform Melissa Vernon says the number of people using videoconference consultations is still only a fraction of those who could benefit from them. Ms Vernon said that during the first Telehealth Awareness Week June 12–16 specialists, support clinicians and patients would be encouraged to use telehealth to its potential. “Each week about 800 regional and outer-metropolitan patients receive medical care using videoconferencing – either for emergency or outpatient services,” she said. “But with telehealth consultations available for a wide range of services in many rural and remote locations, there is hug... -
Margaret sees telehealth changing lives 08 June 2017 Geraldton resident Margaret Pike has seen first-hand how health problems affect country people. And she has seen how the increasing use of telehealth services is taking the trauma of travel out of their recovery. Margaret used to work in the health system, and now that she is retired she is a passionate member of the Geraldton District Health Advisory Committee (DHAC). Margaret encouraged people to utilise the telehealth services as much as possible, because she sees how much better people’s lives are when they can reduce their travel. “Telehealth is vital to country people – especially when they have to travel such a long way for five or ten minute appointments with their doctors in Perth,” she said. “With the trauma of leaving family and work to travel to Perth, patients’ recovery is so much better when they can just speak to their specialist using t... -
Telehealth saves Bill money, miles - and marriage 08 June 2017 Bill Flavel jokes that telehealth might be keeping his marriage together. “I have advanced MS and I’m legally blind so I meet with three Perth specialists – which means a lot of drama for my wife with driving to the city,” the Narrogin resident said. “Any time Jenny and I don’t have to go near the city is great.” Bill ‘meets’ regularly with his neurologist at Royal Perth Hospital by telehealth from the relative comfort of nearby Narrogin Health Service. Once, Jenny would have had to drive 200km to the city, parked and navigated them around the big hospital in Bill’s manual wheelchair – his electronic chair won’t fit in their sedan – to meet his specialist. “With telehealth, we just go up to the local primary health service, hook-up on the screen and I can see my specialist and speak to her. “I must ... -
Building a solid foundation for Pingelly Health Centre 02 June 2017 The $8.8 million Pingelly Health Centre is becoming a reality as builders BGC Constructions lay the concrete slab for the innovative new centre that will replace Pingelly Hospital. WA Country Health Service Wheatbelt Regional Director Sean Conlan said the new build was being undertaken as part of the Southern Inland Health Initiative, which includes a $300 million capital works program to improve hospital infrastructure in 37 towns across the Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Midwest and South West. The goal of the capital works program was to ensure these facilities continue to be equipped to deliver contemporary models of care now and in the future. “The focus of the new centre will be on promoting good health, the prevention and early detection of illness and the management of chronic disease,” he said. “The Pingelly Health Centre will provide enhanced primary and community... -
Community members tour Katanning Health Service 01 June 2017 The WA Country Health Service Central Great Southern District Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) members, Katanning Shire President and three councillors recently toured the new build section of the $32 million redevelopment of the Katanning Health Service. The new build portion of the redevelopment includes emergency and medical imaging departments and an expanded outpatient facility. WA Country Health Service Regional Director David Naughton said the tour provided a great opportunity for key community members to see that construction had been gaining momentum and that significant progress had been made on the new build. “The roof has been on for some time, external brickwork has been largely completed and the internal walls and electrical cabling and other internal room services are being installed,” Mr Naughton said. “The new build will facilitate improvements in healt...
Last Updated:
17/04/2026