Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

Assoc Prof Rob WillAssoc Prof Rob WillConsultant RheumatologistConsultant RheumatologistRPH and CEO Osteoporosis RPH and CEO Osteoporosis

Solutions (Australia) Pty LtdSolutions (Australia) Pty Ltd

Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

The HighsThe Highs• A means of advancing the A means of advancing the message of optimalmessage of optimal management of management of osteoporosisosteoporosis• Why Osteoporosis?Why Osteoporosis? Less than 20% of patients who Less than 20% of patients who should be on treatment are treated.should be on treatment are treated. Only 50% of patients started on Only 50% of patients started on treatment remain on treatment at 12 treatment remain on treatment at 12 monthsmonths

Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

The HighsThe Highs• Why Osteoporosis?Why Osteoporosis? Improving management of Improving management of these patients has been expedited by these patients has been expedited by In-House (GP surgery) screening of In-House (GP surgery) screening of over 70’s patientsover 70’s patients This followed by Video-This followed by Video-conferencing with those patients at conferencing with those patients at higher risk of fractures- pts with higher risk of fractures- pts with lower T scores, past minimal trauma lower T scores, past minimal trauma fractures, corticosteroid treatmentfractures, corticosteroid treatment Highly efficient process 5-10 Highly efficient process 5-10 minutesminutes

Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

The HighsThe Highs• Why Osteoporosis?Why Osteoporosis? I (The Physician) has details I (The Physician) has details of the pts past fracture history, falls of the pts past fracture history, falls history, Rx history, risk factors, DEXA history, Rx history, risk factors, DEXA result.result. The GP has a more detailed The GP has a more detailed history of the pt, knows the social history of the pt, knows the social history, has some resultshistory, has some results Tests can be ordered Tests can be ordered efficiently, both I (The physician) and efficiently, both I (The physician) and the GP receive the results.the GP receive the results. Can work well with an efficient Can work well with an efficient organised practice nurse and may organised practice nurse and may avoid GP timeavoid GP time

Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

The HighsThe Highs•Other Musculoskseltal conditions?Other Musculoskseltal conditions? Inflammatory arthritis - RA, goutInflammatory arthritis - RA, gout Diagnostic and management Diagnostic and management dilemmasdilemmas Pain ManagementPain Management

Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

The HighsThe Highs• Why Osteoporosis?Why Osteoporosis? Educational benefits – GP, Educational benefits – GP, medical medical studentsstudents Many more patients can be Many more patients can be assessed –assessed –

Telehealth – The Highs and the Telehealth – The Highs and the LowsLows

The LowsThe Lows• The connection – Using Skype – The connection – Using Skype – needs to be needs to be good quality in advance good quality in advance and tested properlyand tested properly• The organisation – well-The organisation – well-organised at both organised at both endsends• Medicare billingMedicare billing• ReferralsReferrals

TELEHEALTHTELEHEALTHRE: SPECIFICTIONS FOR OPTIMAL CONNECTION FOR

VIDEO CONFERENCING

Connection type: ADSL2/ ADSL2+Modem Type: Netgear/ Belkin/ Cisco router/ Billion BIPAC/ 2wire modem / or any ADSL2 compatible modem. Your ISP would be able to advise better. Security: Sometimes for a better speed Practices might have to turn off the antivirus or windows firewall. If they do not want to turn off the firewall then they might consider downloading Windows Security Essentials. Windows Security Essentials is a freeware provided by Microsoft which has pretty much all virus and spam definitions and it does not affect the connection. But this is up to the practices.Camera: preferably Logitech (with good resolution)Parallel downloads: to get the optimum quality of Video conferencing please do not download other files while you are on VCNB: Apart from these there are other factors like if your account is shaped or you are too far away fro the exchange that can affect the quality as well.Please note that the above specifications are as per our preference but not mandatory. Please consult with your IT person if these are feasible for your practice.