Telemedicine in Australia: Key Benefits and How It Works

It is impossible to imagine the modern world without technology. They penetrate deeper into modern life: smart homes, various assistant robots, smartphones, smart watches etc. are becoming increasingly popular. Thanks to these technologies, human life has become much easier, healthier and richer at the same time.

A significant place among all the innovative technologies of our time is occupied by telemedicine technologies. Australia, as a modern country, has implemented many of them. 

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is the use of devices to transmit and process body data between doctor and patient. This service has become more relevant with the advent of covid into the world.

There are three types of telemedicine:

1. Store-and-forward. It relies on medical history reports and sending documentation to a practitioner (for analysis). 

2. Remote monitoring. It implies using different devices for self-testing. Results are then checked by physicians. 

3. Real-time interactive services. These include telenursing, telepharmacy (pharmaceutical advice), telerehabilitation, and teleneuropsychology (distant neuropsychological consultation and assessment). 

Devices Used in Telemedicine

There are base stations and peripherals.

On a base station such as a computer or any other device, the patient enters data, answers various questions from the doctor, fills out questionnaires.

Telemedicine peripherals are mainly used for data collection. It can be various photos, videos, and so on.

Also, the doctor can remotely set up devices to collect data from his computer. This allows the software to be installed on patient devices.

It can be argued that the most important component of home telemedicine is not the technology, but the software that supports the technology.

What Are Capabilities of Telemedicinal Devices?

Telemedicine peripherals can measure blood oxygen levels, sugar levels, a person's weight, heart rate, pressures, body temperature, peak expiratory flow etc.

An interesting fact is that there is a technology that allows you to assess the condition of the lungs without x-rays or other radiation. The technology is called Vibrational Reaction Imaging (VRI). It allows one to record the vibration of the lungs and compare them with data from healthy patients.

National Telemedicine Doctors

There is a private website in Australia called National Telemedicine Doctors. It allows Aussies to access healthcare remotely via secured audio- or video technology. The services which are provided by doctors on this platform are Medicare bulk-billed. 

Telemedicine and the State Regulation

In Australia, the Australian Digital Medicine Agency is actively involved in the regulation and development of telemedicine. Recently, big technology corporations. They add the ability to monitor heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels to their smartwatches or bracelets, track the quality of sleep and physical activity of a person throughout the day.

How Do Telemedicine/Pharmacy Services Work in Australia?

Australian telemedicine (digital healthcare) services provide the opportunity to consult any specialist and purchase medicines without leaving home:

• First of all, when you get to the site, you might be given the opportunity to communicate with the manager in a chat, who will coordinate your actions - send you for a consultation with a doctor or immediately to place an order.

• After communication, you can choose a specialist that best meets all your requirements - work experience, qualifications, direction of medical practice.

• After consulting a specialist on your issue, the doctor can write a prescription for a medicine that you can order with home delivery right on the same site. Although the products sold on the site are prescription drugs, the doctor has the right to issue a prescription. They will also recommend that you visit a doctor internally.

• You can track the delivery of medicines in your personal account on the website.

• Site consultants support you at all stages - from registration to receiving the medicine. Everyone is interested in the best treatment and quality of services provided.