Visionflex enables telehealth at Clifton Medical Practices

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN is continuing to provide accessible, quality health care to the communities in our region following the launch of the innovative Visionflex project with Clifton Medical Practices (CMP).

Across Australia, digital technology is innovating how health care is delivered, unlocking efficiency and increased access to care and improved communications between clinicians and communities.

The Virtual Primary Health Program is leveraging digital technology to expand the available workforce that rural practices may recruit from and allow rural practices to continue to service patients within the local GP practice.

Access to health workforce in remote and rural communities continues to remain one of the greatest barriers in addressing health need in Queensland, particularly in the primary health care setting.

“Our PHN role includes workforce attraction, priority placement and support. And to be able to do this, we’ve had to be strategic and innovative, making the most of all the tools at our disposal – including digital technology,’ said Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN CEO, Lucille Chalmers.

“We recognise that not all health care professionals want to or are able to move to regional areas. But that shouldn’t mean regional people can’t have equitable access to the care they need,” said Ms Chalmers.

The PHN has supplied CMP with a Visionflex All-in-One Telehealth Cart, which includes a digital stethoscope, IR thermometer, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, ECG and conferencing equipment, with an optional High-Definition camera with Derma Hood and tongue depressor.

It also provides Video Conferencing Software that maximises the use of the cart peripherals, integrates with practice software and allows all interactions between patients and Dr Fang Wei Chen to be recorded.

Dr Chen reflected on the opportunity to use the state-of-the-art technology, saying, “I am so happy to be able to part of this solution to meet the health needs of the local community. I have a passion for rural health care, but my family commitments mean I need to stay in the city. This project enables me to have the best of both worlds.”

Interim Practice Manager at CMP, Anne-Marie Donovan, expressed what a difference the new technology would make for both GPs and patients.

“We are so excited to use this technology with our patients, we are developing our policies and procedures to ensure our patients are well cared for and that assistance is available if they need it. The opportunity for our GPs to have a high-quality consultation from anywhere in the world with an internet connection opens so many opportunities for both our patients and our GPs.”