Synopsis:In 2011 Medicare launched remuneration for some telehealth activities. Since then, around 1,500 telehealth items have been billed for paediatrics in Victoria. About 2/3rds of those were from the RCH. Telehealth video-consultation has the potential to offer enhanced patient care in many areas of paediatrics. Telehealth in partnership with the regional doctor can build local capacity for ongoing management through collaborative care provision and informal up-skilling. An RCH study of 50 Nephrology telehealth video-consultations analysed the impact of telehealth on families and financial costs and benefits to the RCH and the regional clinician. The study indicated substantial days off school were saved; families or travel assistance schemes were saved an average $510 per consultation by avoiding travel; 20% of families were saved a flight and 22% of families saved an overnight stay.

Speakers:

Dr Mandy Walker is the Director of Nephrology and has been providing telehealth video-consultation since 2011 to children with complex nephrologic illness and following renal transplant.

 Dr Kate Thomson is a Developmental Medicine paediatrician who has provided telehealth video-consultation to children with complex disabilities directly in their homes and with a local doctor, as well as with other RCH specialists in the same consultation. Kate is leading the further uptake of telehealth among her Developmental Medicine colleagues.

 Associate Professor Andrew Kornberg is the Director of Neurology and clinical lead for RCH telehealth. Telehealth provision is well integrated within neurology – for multi-disciplinary consults, alternating with face-to-face, to replace some outreach and for emergency ad-hoc consultations between routine face-to–face appointments. Andrew trained with Dr Alan Pestronk in Missouri.

Susan Jury has been leading the set up of telehealth at the RCH since December 2012.