Telstra launches new eHealth Business

Telstra has officially launched a new business division, Telstra Health, in its bid to provide integrated eHealth solutions.
Telstra Group Executive of Retail, Gordon Ballantyne, said Telstra Health would connect patients, healthcare workers, hospitals, pharmacies, government and health funds.
“Health spend is growing more than twice as fast as our economy to nearly 10% of GDP, from $120 billion in 2010 to an estimated $200 billion by 2020. Aging populations, chronic disease and equal access are just some of the challenges faced in bringing quality healthcare to every Australian across a fragmented system," Mr Ballantyne said.
“Many Australians have a different experience of the healthcare system because of where they live. Seven
million people in rural and regional Australia access GP services at a lower rate than the national average.
“We see our role as integrating eHealth solutions across all care settings to solve these industry challenges."
Shane Solomon, former CEO of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority  brings 30 years experience in the health sector as Managing Director of Telstra Health.
Telstra announced a new joint venture with world-leading Swiss based telemedicine company Medgate,
‘Telstra ReadyCare’.
The service will see patients talk directly to GPs over video or phone to receive advice, diagnosis, prescriptions, and referrals. ReadyCare is designed to complement regular GP consultations, with
information from a telemedicine GP consultation provided back to the patient’s regular GP to ensure
continuity of care.
Mr Ballantyne said ReadyCare is aimed at overcoming the challenges of distance and availability to provide
greater levels of access. It will operate on a 24/7 basis, and address the estimated 2.2 million of emergency
department presentations occurring annually that could have been treated by a GP.
A Clinical Advisory Panel has been established by ReadyCare to oversee clinical guidelines. Dr Chris MitchellAM,  past President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Associate Professor Dr Bruce Chater, past President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine have been appointed to the panel.
National Telehealth Connection Service
Mr Ballantyne confirmed Northern Territory Government has partnered with Telstra Health to build a National Telehealth Connection Service, integrating eHealth solutions, including connectivity, video conferencing, and scheduling, to bring specialist medical care to some of Australia’s most remote communities.
The program enables patients to receive more of the care they need in their communities rather than having
to travel for more than 17 hours each way for a single appointment.
“The Service is now connecting community health centres in Tennant Creek and Santa Teresa in the
Northern Territory with specialist medical care from teaching hospitals. It combines our strength in data
connectivity with our new eHealth capabilities to deliver remote specialist health service,” Mr Ballantyne said.
It was also announced that Silver Chain Group, one of Australia’s largest and most innovative in-home health and care providers, has chosen Telstra Health to help deliver highly specialist nursing care in the comfort of a person’s own home.
Silver Chain Group will use Telstra Health’s new eHealth platform to more closely monitor the health of patients leaving hospital, intervene to reduce the risk of a health condition from deteriorating, and avoid a return to hospital.
“Hospital medical staff will be able to access a secure portal to keep track of the services provided by Silver
Chain and remotely monitor changes in the patient's condition. “This integrated approach will result in a higher quality of care, better communication between services and more efficient use of health resources,” added Mr Ballantyne