Kimberley virtual Ear Nose and Throat service awarded gold for innovation

The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) innovative Ear Nose and Throat service via telehealth (TeleENT) was awarded Best Practice in Innovation at this month's Institute of Public Administration Western Australia Achievement Awards 2021.

TeleENT is offering people in the Kimberley communities of Balgo, Halls Creek and Kupungarri access to specialist ear care closer to home with local health staff using powerful cameras to show the patient's ear canal and drum to a medical specialist in real time via videoconferencing technology.

WACHS Kimberley Regional Director Bec Smith said the TeleENT service continued to make a real difference in some of the region's most remote communities.

"Before virtual care was an option, communities would need to travel to seek specialist ENT support, now they only need to walk or drive a short distance to their nearby clinic," Ms Smith said.

"During the wet season, travel in and out of Kupungarri is not possible. TeleENT ensures these residents have year-round access to ENT care.

"We cannot understate the difference TeleENT is having on ear health for Aboriginal communities."

Dr Jafri Kuthubutheen, Lead Ear Nose and Throat Specialist for the Kimberley region said delivering care closer to home for our remote patients is so important, especially in places like the Kimberley.

"We have worked hard to expand the availability of TeleENT across the Kimberley in a bid to reduce the amount of travel for patients attending ENT outpatient consults," Dr Kuthubutheen said.

Another great aspect of the TeleENT model is the ability to support and upskill local staff in video otoscopy and ear health skills via telehealth."

Children living in remote communities have some of the highest rates of chronic ear disease in the world making access enhancements, such as via TeleENT, vital to improve health outcomes.

"Ear health is critically important for children's growth and development and access to outpatient appointments via virtual care such as telehealth enables Kimberley families to get those important checks earlier and more easily," Ms Smith added.

"We have had feedback from local teachers that kids are finding it easier to learn with their ear issues being addressed."

Halls Creek resident Jackie McDonald and her young daughter Letizah are TeleENT users and find it more convenient compared to travelling to Kununurra.

"Telehealth is really good for us – it saves travel and time and I don't need to be away from my other kids," Ms McDonald said.

"Telehealth is good for the community too, it's just as good as seeing the doctor in person because you can see and hear them really well."

Kimberley nurses and Aboriginal health workers are also benefiting from the service with additional training and skills in ear health to improve services for the region.

The TeleENT model was collaboratively developed by WACHS, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service and Derby Aboriginal Health Service.