The Telehealth Support Unit represented at the National Telehealth Summit held in Sydney on 20-21 April 2021.
Stephanie Ferdinands presented at the Summit on the topic of ‘Funding Telehealth Models of Care in Queensland Health’. Stephanie then joined fellow speaker: Professor Jennifer Watts, Health of School, Faculty of Health - Deakin University on a Q&A panel, answering questions from the audience on the topic of “Funding and Incentives – The myths, the realities and ensuring efficiencies”.
Stephanie’s presentation was well received and generated interest and a great deal of questions from the audience. The Summit provided opportunity to hear about the progress and work in telehealth being achieved both internationally and in our local Australian jurisdictions (State Health departments, Universities and Primary Care).
Dr Peter Yellowlees, Chief Wellness Officer University of California, Davis was the International Key Note speaker at the Summit. Dr Yellowlees is a respected and well known advocate for telehealth. He talked about the ‘pandemic mental health effect’ and the drivers of telepsychiatry use in the USA and around the world. From his perspective as a practicing Psychiatrist, Dr Yellowlees provided insight into the practice of telepsychiatry during COVID-19.
Notable presentations included:
- Queensland Health’s Professor Sabe Sabeson, Director of Medical Oncology,Townsville Cancer Centre. Prof Sabeson provided an overview of the Australian Teletrial program implemented in Queensland.
- Prof. Glen Maberly – Director of Western Sydney Diabetes and Senior Staff Specialist Endocrinologist at Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals in Western Sydney Local Health District. Prof. Maberly spoke of the Epidemic of Diabetes in the Wester Sydney Local Health District and the impact of COVID-19. Detailing their hybrid face-to-face/virtual care approach to ensuring patients continue to be able to access care during the pandemic.
- NSW Health counterparts - Ian Schrader (eHealth NSW) & Regina Osten (Agency of Clinical Innovation) presented on how NSW has created/supported the development of virtual models of care, that are intrinsically patient centred and integrated. Specifically, how virtual models of care, that increase access, connect teams, support workforce development, and optimise service delivery.
All presentations from the conference are now available to attendees.
If you are interested in learning more about how telehealth models of care are funded in Queensland, please contact Stephanie Ferdinands for further information.
