WITH limited access to at-home technology, her specialist several hours away and she and her husband on ‘the farm’, Dianne McDonald is on the “tell a friend – tell 10!” bandwagon, when it comes to Telehealth.
Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy – the disease which most likely went undiagnosed for her brother and claimed his life – Mrs McDonald said the Telehealth hub installed at the Dartmoor Bush Nursing Centre, paired with the familiarity of the centre’s staff had been a “God send” in coping with her disease and its treatment.
“It’s been marvellous, I can just come in here, I can be in the room talking to the specialist, I can have (DBNC staff member, Rachel Pridham) in here with with, I can have the headphones on for privacy if I want or I can have Rachel or my husband in here to help me if I can’t hear the information or I don’t understand the information, it’s just wonderful.
“We don’t have to travel, we don’t have to stay away from home and we can have the same appointment as if we were there with the specialist.”
The Barwon South West (BSW) Telehealth program team headed to the DBNC last week to share some information and answer some unanswered questions for residents.
“The information session included subjects such as “what is Telehealth”, How can I have a telehealth appointment and what do I need for a telehealth appointment,” BSW’s Christie Berry said.
“Along with the education session was a visit from ‘NBN Local’ advisor Sarah Incoll who educated consumers on their digital literacy and what connectivity they can receive at their physical address and what to look out for digital scams they may receive.”
There has been an overwhelming need expressed by the public health services across the BSW Region for the ability to educate consumers in the community about Telehealth and for them to be empowered and educated on how they can ask their GP, Specialist or Clinician for a Telehealth appointment.
Barwon South West Christie Berry
“This in turn would provide for the consumer reduced travel time, savings in time and money, care closer to home, less disruption to daily routines and greater flexibility for a consumer’s appointment.”
The bush nursing centre’s Rachel Pridham said the Teleheath hub had been vital for Mrs McDonald’s wellbeing when dealing with her condition.
“Even when she was diagnosed, when she got that devastating news, she was here, surrounded by people she knows, she was able to go to her own home, with her husband and familiar surroundings in just a few minutes, she didn’t have the added stress of having to travel a long distance with that information weighing on her, or stay in a strange motel room,” Ms Pridham said.
