NBN Diabetes Telehealth Trial in Townsville
Funded under the Digital Regions Initiative National Partnership Agreement.
Funding recipient
Organisation: Queensland Health
Project partners
Townsville - Mackay Medicare Local
Project overview and objectives
The trial takes advantage of the NBN to deliver high quality in-home health services to improve the health outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes who live in Townsville. The trial initially involves participants in the NBN first-release suburbs of Aitkenvale and Mundingburra, and will extend to include participants in the second-release sites in Townsville.
This trial is delivering the following services to patients:
- in-home telehealth monitoring of patient health and wellbeing indicators, such as blood pressure and glucose levels
- provision of routine updates on health status to health professionals, including alerts where there is a change in a patient's condition that may require intervention
- home teleconsultations with care coordinators using high-definition video
- access to support, education and coaching services to promote healthier lifestyles.
This broadband-enabled access to appropriate health care means that patients will no longer have to regularly leave their homes to access health professionals. In-home monitoring will enhance glycaemic control for patients, which significantly reduces the risk of costly diabetes-related complications.
The trial is expected to deliver a range of benefits to type 2 diabetes patients and their health providers and carers including:
- improved diabetes management
- the ability to detect and address quickly any deterioration in condition, reducing the impact and the level of intervention required
- improved patient confidence in self-managing a diabetic condition
- increased support for general practitioners, allied health professionals and, potentially, specialists
- more efficient and effective coordination of a patient's health care needs
- reduced travel times and transport costs.
Through increased support for both patients and their carers, the trial is expected to improve the quality of life of diabetes patients, and assist health professionals to provide more efficient, high-quality care for individuals in their homes.
Close monitoring will occur throughout the trial, and a comprehensive evaluation at its conclusion will inform how telehealth could become a mainstream form of health care delivery for Australians with chronic diseases, such as diabetes.
| Funding | |
| Australian Government | $3 760 000 |
| Other contributions (includes cash and in-kind) | $3 760 000 |
| Total | $7 520 000 (excluding GST) |
