Telehealth helping patients heal on country

In July this year, the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Broome Telehealth Nursing Room opened its doors and made an instant impact on the local community.

The new service means Kimberley residents are supported to self-manage their health journeys and access care on country.

Whether on their own, or with a local nurse, patients are able to engage in outpatient appointments through the use of telehealth videoconferencing technology.

For a local Aboriginal woman, the service has allowed her to stay on country while recovering from surgery.

When she expressed distress at needing to travel to Perth for treatment on a frequent basis, Royal Perth Hospital and the Broome Nursing Telehealth teams worked together to allow her to receive daily dressings and appointments from her local hospital.

For another Broome mother, a telehealth appointment at Broome Hospital means not having to juggle busy work and school schedules to travel to Perth.

WACHS understands that having a culturally safe way to access specialist care while remaining on country has been a game changer in increasing positive health outcomes for some of our most isolated communities.

From 24 to 28 October, WACHS is marking Telehealth Awareness Week by highlighting the benefits telehealth technologies have brought to country patients.

Telehealth enables continuity of care closer to home - across community, emergency, inpatient and outpatient services.

Country staff are able to access expert support to provide potentially lifesaving care regardless of their location or time of day.