TUESDAY\u2019s the day the teddy bears have their check-up.<\/p>\n
Grampian\u2019s Health\u2019s online Teddy Bear Telehealth returned last week for the school holidays, led by medical students from Deakin University and the University of Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Children and their teddies were invited to take part in mock online consultation sessions with the next generation of local doctors, to gain an understanding of medical scenarios in a fun and safe context.<\/p>\n
Deakin University student Chia-Chen Cheng led the initiative, and said it provided an enjoyable way for kids to experience a doctor\u2019s appointment in a non-physical setting.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past two years, we have all had to adapt to online services or learning at some stage during COVID,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Teddy Bear Telehealth Program is really a great way to introduce youngsters to how they can receive medical information online with the support of their parent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also know how much children love playing with their teddy bears so it\u2019s also a fun activity for children over the school holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sessions were provided for children aged between five and 10, and through use of a teddy bear, they discussed medical ailments like soreness, unwellness, and visual symptoms.<\/p>\n
Each session focused on a specific medical scenario, and Grampians Health\u2019s co-head of paediatrics Dr Shabna Rajapaksa said the program is all about accessibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are finding patients who previously delayed face-to-face appointments due to hours of travel were much more likely to continue treatment and attend follow-up appointments as telehealth can be conducted anywhere,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TUESDAY\u2019s the day the teddy bears have their check-up. Grampian\u2019s Health\u2019s online Teddy Bear Telehealth returned last week for the school holidays, led by medical students from Deakin University and the University of Melbourne. Children and their teddies were invited to take part in mock online consultation sessions with the next generation of local doctors, […]<\/p>\n