Australia reacted quickly and decisively in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, instituting lockdowns and strict social distancing measures. This action has had two palpable effects - limiting the number of COVID-19 cases experienced in the country and driving the Australian population online in numbers never seen before. The Internet has long been an integral part of modern Australian life, but the lockdown has made it an essential service, with people working, attending classes and shopping online more than ever.
Australia Post is currently having trouble keeping up with delivery demands, in part because of social distancing measures and limited hours, but also because of the fact that Australians are shopping online for everything on a scale usually only seen during the Christmas season and Black Friday. By Mid April, online alcohol sales were up 168%, department store shopping by 185% and medicines/hygiene products 236%. Those numbers have steadily risen since then and aren’t expected to decrease any time soon.
Across the country people have embraced the convenience of the online world, as well as the safety it provides when it comes to the fear of viral infection. We can see these two factors at play in the rise of Telehealth.
The convenience of Telehealth is pretty self-explanatory. Being able to connect with a medical professional from the comfort of your own home is convenient not only in terms of location but in time as well. A 15 minute appointment takes 15 minutes, rather than the appointment time and whatever commute brackets it.
The fear of COVID-19 and the possibility of a second wave is not something that is going to go away anytime soon, even with relaxation or repealing of restrictions. A number of people are going to be avoiding large groups or places that are seen as possible vectors of infection, and that, unfortunately includes medical practices. Both MyHealth1st and practices themselves have noticed a drop in bookings across the board. Enticing patients back to your practice is important, but equally important is giving patients a way to connect with your clinic without the need for physical presence.
That’s where Telehealth comes in.
Offering patients a way of connecting with your practice that doesn’t require them to be physically present, or using telehealth as a tool to triage patients to advise them as to whether they should present for a face to face appointment is the clearest and easiest way to allay fears of infection, retain existing patients and attract new ones during and after the pandemic.
Telehealth is any service that allows a practice and patient to connect remotely. Phone calls, Skype, Zoom and other teleconferencing solutions can all be used for telehealth, but may not provide the ease of use and security needed for medical purposes.
MyHealth1st offers our own EasyTelehealth solution, an end-to-end encrypted, browser based solution that works on any device with an Internet browser, so long as you have a camera and microphone or headset with a built-in mic. EasyTelehealth also gives you the option to take payments and make Medicare or DVA claims online with EasyHealthPayments .
Benefits of Telehealth
The convenience factor of telehealth is not just applicable to patients. Telehealth offers nearly unprecedented convenience and efficiency to practices as well. Of course connecting remotely with patients limits the risk of contracting COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, but it still allows you to perform any treatment or diagnosis that doesn’t require direct presence, such as colds and flu, small injuries and burns, infections, rashes and more.
The benefits of telehealth don’t end there. Additional benefits of Telehealth integration include:
- Increase in practice revenue due to expanded reach and accessibility
- Reduced practice overhead
- Reduced patient no-shows
- Triage and Aftercare
To find out more about how EasyTelehealth can help your practice expand its reach and attract new patients, what can be done with Telehealth and how to communicate with new and existing patients that you are offering Telehealth services, simply click the relevant link below.
The Ultimate Guide to Telehealth
We’ve created guides for Dental Practices, GPs, Optometrists and Psychologists detailing all the ways our EasyTelehealth service can be used and marketed. Any service that doesn’t require direct physical presence or intervention is perfectly suited to be provided via telehealth, as is triage and aftercare. MyHealth1st is dedicated to providing both patients and practices with access to tools and technology that makes the healthcare journey an easy and effective one.
Embrace the future of Australian medicine and download the Ultimate Guide to Telehealth!
