Telehealth relieves ED pressures

AMPLAR Health has revealed that more than a third of users of the 24/7 telehealth service North Coast Health Connect (NCHC) who were planning to visit an emergency department in the past year were diverted to alternative forms of healthcare.

In a region where GP waiting times are double the national average, the confidential telehealth provider connects patients with qualified nurses for clinical support and advice over the phone or via online chat.

Patients are redirected to a further GP or pharmacist consultation or the local hospital when necessary.

The NCHC service is working to help address public health pressures, healthcare worker shortage and the demand placed on local emergency departments.

Amplar Health senior medical adviser Dr Peter Baird said that any redirection away from an ED reduces strain on the public hospital system.

“Patients want to be seen quickly in the most appropriate environment for their condition,” he said.

“Almost a quarter of locals have been to the emergency department for a non-urgent medical problem in the past – a figure NCHC aims to reduce.”

Data from NCHC also revealed that the most common non-urgent health concerns were cold and flu symptoms, coughs and ear problems.

One in 10 calls are from First Nations patients, and more than half of all calls were made after business hours, which is prime time for ED presentations.

“An increasing number of residents are turning to us when they need access to non-urgent health advice and support, which is fantastic, but we need more locals to know about the offering,” Dr Baird said. “Whilst it’s concerning that a lack of GP access continues to burden communities and the ongoing strain on the public health sector, it’s reassuring to know that locals are picking up the phone and getting the right support they need from a trusted health professional.

“We can also see from our call data that young locals between 18–34 years old are 50 per cent more likely to use webchat than those aged over 55, which indicates a keen interest in digital channels when seeking health advice and assessment.”

For more information, contact NCHC on 1800 198 888 or visit northcoasthealthconnect.org.au