How virtualised healthcare is improving accessibility and affordability in Australia

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for rapid innovation within our national healthcare system across allied health providers, GP, clinics and hospitals Almost overnight, health services across Australia transitioned from face-to-face consultations to virtual ones, propelling telehealth into the mainstream and making it a core component of healthcare delivery.

Today, the healthcare sector is exploring further opportunities for virtualised care—not just because it’s a savvy use of existing technology, but because it provides substantial benefits to patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems.

Optus, in collaboration with Cisco, has conducted extensive research in this area. This effort culminated in a comprehensive virtualised care research report and an industry roundtable featuring representatives across Australia.

Here are the key insights from the report, shedding light on what drives investment in virtualised care and where future opportunities may lie.

What’s driving adoption?

For healthcare professionals, the primary driver of virtualised care is improved accessibility. This is particularly significant for individuals in rural and remote areas, as well as patients with disabilities and mobility issues. In essence, virtualised care is transformative for those who face challenges accessing face-to-face services.

Another major driver is the potential to lower the cost of care. Virtualised care services enable patients to be treated or monitored in non-acute settings, such as their homes, reducing the need for costly hospital visits. Interestingly, fewer respondents highlighted improvements in clinician and patient safety or cost savings to patients as key drivers, despite the positive experiences with telehealth during the pandemic.

What’s on the adoption radar?

Two areas currently have low adoption levels but high interest from healthcare professionals, suggesting they will see significant investment in the near future.

1. Digital tools for patient triage and intake: Less than 15% of hospitals have adopted these tools, but another 40% intend to implement them. Virtual emergency departments (Virtual ED) exemplify how technology can accurately assess and prioritise patient needs.
2. Analytics software for clinical decision-making: Adoption by just under 20% of hospitals, with another 40% planning to adopt, shows growing interest. This trend is complemented by the increased use of mobile applications to access clinical information.

How this is playing out in terms of technology

Several key technologies are critical to virtualised care applications, which Optus is heavily focused on:

• Collaboration tools: Essential for contactless patient consultations and visitations, these tools enhance safety for clinicians, hospital staff, patients, and carers
• Infrastructure and platforms: The performance of virtual care applications relies on robust underlying infrastructure. For instance, Virtual EDs depend on the quality and resilience of networks at both ends. In scenarios like an ambulance ride, 5G technology is crucial for secure, reliable, and timely data sharing.
• Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud Services: These technologies are vital for remote patient monitoring. For example, new tools can alert a patient’s family or caregiver when certain conditions are met, such as doors opening or closing, water left running, or fluctuations in environmental conditions—not just vital signs monitoring.
• Cybersecurity: Health records are highly valuable on the black market, so cybersecurity continues to attract significant interest and investment. Protecting patient data is paramount to safeguarding broader identity theft.
   

Taking the conversation further

As the healthcare sector transitions from crisis response to transformation, understanding how technology can play a pivotal role will be crucial. Identifying where technology can deliver tangible benefits to our communities, patients, and healthcare workforce is key to this ongoing evolution.

Source:

1: A new wave of virtualised healthcare Opportunities for the Australian healthcare sector by Optus Enterprise, Cisco & Vector Consulting

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