telehealth to be trialled over nbn

Does anyone know if the Telemedcare has anything to do with the government announcement, re Telehealth to be trialled over NBN in Armidale & Kiama.



http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/technology/43606-telehealth-to-be-trialled-over-nbn-in-armidale-a-kiama


Communications minister, senator Stephen Conroy has announced plans for telehealth trials over the NBN in Armidale and Kiama, starting early in 2011.

Conroy said the Government would provide funding of up to $4 million under a National Partnership Agreement as part of the Digital Regions Initiative.

Conroy said the trials would focus on the delivery, to homes via the NBN, of "high-quality telehealth services for older Australians with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease. The trials will be delivered in collaboration with NSW Health, local general practitioners and primary care providers.

Ian O'Dea, Aged care leader with the Hunter New England Area Health Service, said: "This project will significantly improve the ability to conduct home based assessments of people with chronic disease conditions."

Conroy said services that might be delivered under the trial could include:
- monitoring of health and wellbeing indicators such as blood pressure, glucose levels and lung function, and the issuing of alerts where required to local health professionals

- Home video-consultations to allow patients to communicate with relevant health providers;

- Healthy living support to provide information, coaching and relevant social networking opportunities to promote healthier lifestyles.

Conroy said: "Telehealth has many benefits including fewer presentations to hospital or emergency departments, a reduction in the number of visits to GPs and other health services, reduced travel times and transport costs and improved patient self-management. Importantly, it can allow people to stay in their homes for longer, instead of being moved into residential care."

Conroy said that a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts and outcomes of the trials would be undertaken "to inform how telehealth could become a mainstream form of health service delivery for older Australians with chronic conditions."

Conroy announced plans for the trials at the e-health Conference 2010: Revolutionising Australia's Health Care, held to discuss "the technological revolution in the delivery of health care, including opportunities presented by the NBN."