Virtual care at the cutting edge of digital health

Our Industry Comment guests for Autumn are HISA CEO Dr Louise Schaper and Nurse practitioner Matiu Bush, presenting at the Australian Telehealth Conference 2017 where they will be exploring trends and innovations in digital health technology.

Nurse practitioner Matiu Bush takes his passion for creative innovation to the next level — as a patient experience consultant co-designing with patients.

Matiu was the former nurse manager at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre where he transformed the patient experience from waiting room through to consultation and rehab.

As the new Design Integration Lead at RSL Care, he is now revitalising service delivery for aged care patients across the country.

“To patients every smile, every small gesture counts, I lead my team in designing and delivering a healthcare experience that makes a difference.”

Nurse practitioner Matiu Bush is a member of Better Care Victoria’s Emerging Leaders Clinical Advisory Committee who advise on innovation and embedding cultural change in the health sector.

He is one of the new wave of clinicians looking beyond traditional models of care to virtual care and connected care models who will be appearing at the Australian Telehealth Conference 2017 to be held in Melbourne 27–28 April, organised by the non-profit peak body for digital health HISA.

Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) CEO Dr Louise Schaper said: “While many clinicians are starting off in the use of telehealth, others are already exploring virtual reality, patient user experience design, artificial intelligence, robotics and new models of care delivery.

“This year’s conference caters for all clinicians, whatever your stage of knowledge.

“It is also focused strongly on how the clinical workforce is adapting and changing in response to digital health innovations.

“HISA is continually promoting digital health training and certification pathways for clinicians. And when health professionals come out and see firsthand how fast things are changing, it’s a real eye-opener.”

Dr Schaper said a workshop would be held at the conference to assist organisations seeking to introduce or redesign clinical services moving into a virtual care age.

Also, national and international clinicians, administrators and healthcare professionals will share their learnings in telehealth through experience and on-the-ground implementations.

Clinically focused presentations from practitioners with hands-on experience include:

• Developing telehealth services in a clinical setting: Jane Kealey, telehealth manager Northeast Health Wangaratta;
• Operationalising and embedding telehealth: Melissa Vernon, WA Country Health Service;
• Western NSW three-year telehealth strategy: David Wright and Sharyn Cowie, Western NSW Local health district;
• Demystifying the complex, practical importance of telehealth: Kim Casburn, Royal Far West.

From Victoria, Andrew Saunders Health Chief Information Officer, and Penelope Watson, Manager, Telehealth Strategy and Development, from the Department of Health and Human Services, will present on current telehealth projects, policies and funding.

View the full program at www.hisa.org.au/atc.

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OFFER: Hospital and healthcare service, allied health and GP practice groups who register three delegates will receive a 50% discount on the third registration. C 2017 is presented by HISA, Australia’s not-for-profit digital health community, in association with the RACGP, ACRRM, HIMAA, AHPA and the Australasian Telehealth Society.