Telehealth & Remote Patient Monitoring for At Risk/Rural Australians

By Holly Foreman

As technology continues to evolve, it has been applied in every layer of urban society. But Australians in rural areas haven’t seen the same level of technological advancement, particularly in their healthcare. In fact, the obstacles faced by patients and providers create health inequalities that CareMeda works hard to overcome.

In an urban setting, there is an average of 32.2 healthcare providers per 10,000 people. For rural settings however, that average drops to 13.1. Similarly, 15.5% of adults in urban areas describe their health as “fair to poor.” That number grows to 19.5% when adults in rural areas are surveyed.

Distance, time and mobility are factors for citizens in rural areas who seek care. If a one-hour consultation with a physician requires four hours worth of travel, it becomes a burden on the patient. If that same patient has a condition that precludes them from driving, that burden is even greater for them to bear, as transportation options become almost non-existent.

For rural patients, virtual and remote visits are used infrequently, but they could be key to receiving the care that many people need. Those with chronic conditions typically only seek care when symptoms progress to dangerous levels. Emergency care is much more expensive— up to 12 times as much as preventive care could be— but there is virtually no use of teleheath outside of recent Covid adaptations.

Also of concern is the level of care available for seniors in rural areas, as well as that for indigenous peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. In general, these people make up a greater share of the population in remote and isolated areas, but the availability of quality aged care in remote areas is significantly lower than it is in cities. Socioeconomic inequalities come into play as well, as these populations have additional vulnerabilities arising from higher rates of disability, comorbidities, homelessness and dementia.

CareMeda helps drive the evolution of rural care by providing technology that simplifies face-to-face remote care. With clinical-grade wearable technology, we bring the healthcare provider to the patient instead of the other way round. Through the use of personalized tablets and monitoring devices, patients have a one-click gateway to their healthcare providers. These wearable and radar-enabled devices give physicians real-time and historic data, and remove much of the need for an in-person appointment.

We understand that state of the art technology comes from many different places and are proud to be hardware agnostic. In other words, we have the ability to integrate with any device, regardless of brand. As a result, we are able to incorporate the most innovative devices available and evolve as the technology advances. We are currently integrated with regulatory-approved monitoring devices like blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, thermometers and glucometers, as well as contactless radar enabled devices and AI-supported applications.

On the physician’s side, our caregiver dashboard provides a beautifully simple overview of all levels of patient care. With a glance, providers can see a high level of information for all patients in their care, and simply drill down to very granular levels. The simple interface saves time by creating a transparent view that is easy to read and assimilate by each member of a care team.

For the family and friends of patients, our Connectkin© app makes it possible to involve loved ones in care routines. They can sit in remotely for consultations, see vitals information, and instantly pop in for a quick video call to offer words of encouragement. For patients who are aging in place, their family care network can receive training and support through the app as well.

Perhaps the biggest benefit CareMeda brings to rural populations is the removal of geographic barriers to care. Preventive consultations and even post-surgical care can be accomplished without fuss. By not returning to the hospital, surgical patients have reduced exposure to infections and other post-surgical concerns. Indigenous peoples and Torres Strait Islanders can have their health addressed by specialized caregivers who integrate their cultural values, even if they aren’t located nearby.  All around, there is a higher likelihood for rural patients to seek preventive care when time and distance concerns are removed, and senior patients receive a higher level of care than what may be available closer to home.

CareMeda technology brings the caregivers to the patients, and makes it possible for previously underserved populations to receive the high level of care they deserve. When barriers to care are removed, health inequality becomes a thing of the past. And that’s change we can all get behind.

For more information on how CareMeda can integrate with your operation, phone us on 0011+1(813)469-9632 or submit an inquiry.