Digital Health
Improving health care by using
digital health tools
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Year in review
Our PHN continues to work with primary health care providers and other stakeholders to increase the uptake of technologies to improve integration and health care delivered in our region.
Digital Health supports the delivery of safe, more efficient and
better-quality health care. Our digital health team works with
health professionals, hospital and health services, and members
of the community to help them access the knowledge and tools
they need.
Our team has been assisting health professionals
in our community to use:
- Telehealth
- Secure Messaging
- Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions
- Electronic Prescriptions
- Queensland Health’s eHealth Provider Portal - The Viewer
- The GP Smart Referrals
- My Health Record
Bringing care closer to home
Our PHN supports providers to navigate and understand the digital health ecosystem and to unlock the value of digital health. We facilitate targeted capability building through awareness and education.
Telehealth
Telehealth is an integral tool to bring health care closer to home. This became particularly important in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
The uptake of telehealth has enabled specialists, general practice, mental health and other allied health providers, aged care and community organisations to provide effective health care to their clients using video call consultations.
Our team has been providing resources, information and access to telehealth platforms.
Telehealth Pilot
Our PHN is a national Telehealth Pilot site supporting drought-affected areas. We work with healthdirect Australia to offer the healthdirect Video Call service in targeted locations across our region.
GPs, psychologists and social workers who deliver mental health support have been provided with the video consultation platform.
This makes it easy for healthcare providers to offer their services and has helped people in the community to save time and money by bringing health care closer to their home, particularly for those living in rural and remote areas.
" The more people take part in video consultations the more comfortable they are using it. When comparing telehealth and video call consultations to in person consultations I found the amount of D.N.A’s (Did Not Attend) had significantly reduced as patients can log into their appointments from home, it’s very easy and accessible."
Psychologist Barry Sheehan
Evidence-informed quality improvement
On 1 August 2019, the Department of Health introduced the PIP Quality Improvement (QI) Incentive.
The PIP QI Incentive is a payment to general practices that participate in quality improvement activities in partnership with our PHN to improve patient outcomes and deliver best practice care.
