What is Telehealth?

Put simply, telehealth is a delivery of a health service across a distance.

So a good example of telehealth is if a patient has a videoconference appointment from their

home, or from a Regional Hospital directly, to a specialist at the main city hospital.

Telehealth can be also delivered by using the simple telephone, also by sharing information.

For example, sending a digital image by email is another good example of telehealth.

Often we think of telehealth as a method of supporting people in faraway places.

However, telehealth is just as useful for people who live in city environments.

Let’s Bust Some Myths

Myth 1: Telehealth will replace all in-person consultations

telehealth is not designed to prevent all travel to a specialist.

While telehealth can be extremely useful for a range of appointments, such as follow-up
appointments.

The choice of whether to provide service in person or by telehealth should be based on the
clinical requirements. and the purpose of the consultation.

Myth 2: Care is not as good as via Telehealth because it’s not

“hands-on”

Research shows that the assessments and Diagnostics performed via telerehabilitation are
equivalent to in-person services.

And the treatment outcomes that you can achieve via technology are not inferior to traditional
services.
Myth 3: Telehealth is simply replicating at a distance what we do
in person

Research debunks this myth by showing that the virtual delivery of healthcare is experienced
differently by clinicians than in-person delivery.

Importantly telehealth required adaptation, work, and the learning of new competencies by
clinicians, and changes the dynamics, and interaction between those involved in delivering
health services.

Myth 4: Older people don’t like video consultations

Well, contrary to what most people expect, older people really do like this form of conversation.

Quite apart from the fact that they don't have to travel and get tired going to see the specialist.

They find this a really comfortable way of interacting with a health professional.

Myth 5: Delivering care via Telehealth requires more time

When you have a well-coordinated service between two sites, then we've found that actually,
you take less time to manage patients. They need fewer sessions, and the duration of time that
you're seeing patients for a session is less and this actually results in more time efficiencies for
the patient.

And also cost savings for the Health Service, and overall more consumer and clinician
satisfaction.

Myth 6: Telehealth is expensive

You no longer require expensive hardware to participate in a telehealth consultation. In many

cases, a smartphone with a reasonable camera, and an internet connection can be used for a
video consultation or to share clinical information.
Fact: Millions of outpatient appointments being reported throughout major hospitals every year,
it's important to consider the potential of telehealth, as an alternative method of engaging with
patients.