Telehealth training for RACHs to enable greater access to care

Access to healthcare in rural and remote areas is challenging due to workforce shortages and geographic barriers. Telehealth, however, allows health care providers to connect more easily with their patients and provide care through telephone or video consultations. 

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN support residential aged care homes (RACH) by enhancing their digital capacity, allowing better access to primary care services through virtual consultations when clinically appropriate.

The PHN partnered with fifteen other PHNs across Australia to develop a comprehensive telehealth training package for staff in RACHs and the primary care providers who service them, including nurses, GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.

The telehealth training resources offer flexible and interactive learning experience for clinical and non-clinical staff such as essential telehealth skills, communication between healthcare providers, practical skills for using telehealth technology in aged care settings.

“Looking after our older population – particularly those in the region’s rural and remote communities - and ensuring they have access to high quality primary care is a priority for the PHN.

Enabling RACH residents with greater access to care by upskilling our primary care providers and developing their digital capacity reflects how two of our key values in innovation and collaboration are at the forefront of our work,” said Darling Downs and West Moreton CEO, Lucille Chalmers.

The training is endorsed for continuing professional development points (CPD) by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Australian College of Nursing (ACN).

It is free of charge for all Commonwealth-funded RACHs and clinicians.

Key benefits of using telehealth in aged care settings include:

• improved access for both clinicians and residents
• convenience and greater choice
• improved continuity of care.

Learn about the training streams and how to access the training here.