Taking the Lead with Your Healthcare: Telehealth Benefits for Rural Australians

Introduction

Prior to 2020, barely 1% of Australians used the telehealth sector. However, there’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated consumer acceptance of services delivered by these technologies and spurred demand for faster broadband speeds and improved reliability.

Additionally, investment by all levels of government into digital technologies and infrastructure has continued to provide economic and social benefits. For Australians living in rural areas, the potential of telehealth has barely been scratched. However, rural telehealth continues to rise, including with bulk-billed Medicare services. This article discusses the amazing growing benefits of telehealth for rural Australia.

Breaking Down the Geo-Barriers for Access

Over a third of Australians live outside major cities like Sydney, but only around a sixth of specialists do. One of the greatest advances in rural health care in recent years has been the availability of high-quality telemedicine services. Telemedicine has helped bridge the divide between professional healthcare access and the rural patients who need these services. This is especially helpful when you consider that, according to studies from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there is a seven-year differential in life expectancy between rural Australians and those who live in urban and metro areas.

One of the reasons for this is lower health checks that could have prevented deadly diseases, like type 2 diabetes, for example. There is also a time factor to consider. For rural Australians, they might have to drive several kilometers to find a qualified medical professional. Not only does this take too much time, but it is also extremely costly.

Prior to 2020, rural patients typically waited until they were significantly unwell before seeking help. Treatments can be more complex and outcomes poorer as a result. Telemedicine helps to alleviate many of these issues by providing care to patients where they live. Since 2020, Australians have received nearly 80 million telehealth consultations. This also includes rural Australians who need to connect with qualified professionals.

Improved Health Education

Digital literacy is also important for ensuring Australians can access and understand the health, education, social, and economic advantages that technology offers. Prior to the 2020 pandemic, the lack of digital healthcare infrastructure made it hard to launch and promote effective health campaigns.

However, with more broadband internet available in remote areas like Kimberley in Western Australia, residents in these areas can better connect with both private and Medicare-funded telehealth providers. For Australians who need specialists or want to compare different telehealth providers, online GP appointment booking services, and expert provider reviews at reputable sites like Medicompare.

Telehealth Saves Time for Everyone

Australians living in rural areas aren’t the only ones who save time and money with telehealth. Business professionals and even family life can be managed with telehealth services. Being able to communicate with your doctor while at work or at home, without interruption or loss of valuable time, continues to drive telehealth services.

This is also invaluable for those who need follow-up care or routine check-ins. Without having to go to a physical doctor’s office, Australians throughout the country can juggle their other life duties. In contrast, it also allows medical professionals to better allocate their time and resources to patients who need in-care services the most.

Telehealth Also Assists Doctors

Telehealth also continues to revolutionize the recruitment process. Doctors graduating from university are less hesitant to do rural rotations if they know they’ll have telehealth technology tethering them virtually to mentors back home, their contemporaries elsewhere, and online education materials. Many are even splitting their time between regional hubs and home-based consulting.

Conclusion: There’s No Stopping Rural Australian Telehealth

Mental health is another area that is likely to see significant benefit. Suicide rates are much higher in rural Australia when compared to our metropolitan counterparts. Improving access to psychological services and support is essential to drastically cut these horrible statistics. With qualified telehealth services, in some cases, you can get to see someone sooner, through virtual meetings, than you can in person. If you live in regional Australia, more comprehensive healthcare is arriving too, as broadband and high-speed internet continue to enter more homes and facilities.