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A world-first medical service here in Australia could be the key to relieving the pressure on hospitals and help provide safer management of people most prone to or already suffering from COVID-19.
Emerald Clinics in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne have launched a Telehealth COVID Review Service for 1000 of their patients, which uses videoconferencing virtual clinics to assist those most at risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as those who have tested positive to the virus.
"What you don't want to do is have lots of people turn up to the hospitals who are already going to be overwhelmed with managing their current COVID cases. It's extra pressure on the hospitals and if you don't have COVID you're at higher risk of getting it in that environment," Managing Director Dr Michael Winlo told 9News.com.au.
"I'm not aware of any service like this… I don't think anyone has done this overseas, certainly not in clinical services.
"We've adapted two Australian services called Coviu and FollowApp which allows us to have a waiting room, allows patients to be picked up by a receptionist, and handed to the doctor, so the experience feels like going to a medical clinic."
World-first Aussie 'virtual' clinic to ease COVID-19 pressure on hospitals (Supplied)
Dr Winlo said the coronavirus pandemic has prompted clinics like his to review how to best treat and manage the fast evolving medical crisis.
A person still needs to physically go to a testing location to be tested for COVID-19 if they have the symptoms, but before or after they do get tested, there can be steps taken to ensure an individual's health is put first.
"We know with how this has played out around the world that we need better ways to be able to manage this condition in the home," he said.
"The virtual service ensures patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 can access medical care while in quarantine or self-isolating and support research against the disease.
"It also helps 'flatten the curve' in the fight against the coronavirus by reducing the spread and by protecting frontline medical staff."
The service offered by Emerald Clinics is aimed at monitoring symptoms in a more automated way, but with an actual doctor on hand to assist when symptom 'red flags' issue alerts and prompt a consult with a patient.
To hold a Telehealth videoconference all a patient needs a computer, tablet or mobile smartphone with a camera, microphone and speakers and a good internet connection.
Though it is currently being used within Emerald's network, Dr Winlo said they will be "ramping up" the service as required and "hope to expand to others particularly those who can't see their usual GP" because of the deadly spread of coronavirus around Australia since March.
"For those people they can deteriorate quite quickly with COVID-19 - you can be well for a few days, your fever might resolve and all of a sudden you might have shortness of breath," Dr Winlo said.
"It's really important to spot when those changes happen and ensure they get the appropriate follow-up."
The added research value of the 'virtual' clinic's regular contact with COVID-19 patients is a positive step to help universities and medical studies into the coronavirus and the race to develop a vaccine, however patient privacy is still at the forefront with the Telehealth COVID Review Service.
"We're not trying to capture too much of the personal health information, we just take the crucial elements," Dr Winlo said.
"We're very explicit about consent. We only take information to help manage their health. We do ask them permission if they want to be identified or anonymous to support the research effort.
"We're still not out of this pandemic by any stretch of the imagination and the case numbers will continue to rise until we have a treatment or vaccine. So it's much better to be over-prepared for this than to be caught on the back foot.
"By the summer there may be a treatment. Some re-purposed medications look promising with anti-viral drugs, but I expect a vaccine into next year."
https://www.9news.com.au/national/c...patients/26818a1d-8a0f-4df0-8b94-065b3a7efb54
Emerald Clinics in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne have launched a Telehealth COVID Review Service for 1000 of their patients, which uses videoconferencing virtual clinics to assist those most at risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as those who have tested positive to the virus.
"What you don't want to do is have lots of people turn up to the hospitals who are already going to be overwhelmed with managing their current COVID cases. It's extra pressure on the hospitals and if you don't have COVID you're at higher risk of getting it in that environment," Managing Director Dr Michael Winlo told 9News.com.au.
"I'm not aware of any service like this… I don't think anyone has done this overseas, certainly not in clinical services.
"We've adapted two Australian services called Coviu and FollowApp which allows us to have a waiting room, allows patients to be picked up by a receptionist, and handed to the doctor, so the experience feels like going to a medical clinic."
World-first Aussie 'virtual' clinic to ease COVID-19 pressure on hospitals (Supplied)
Dr Winlo said the coronavirus pandemic has prompted clinics like his to review how to best treat and manage the fast evolving medical crisis.
A person still needs to physically go to a testing location to be tested for COVID-19 if they have the symptoms, but before or after they do get tested, there can be steps taken to ensure an individual's health is put first.
"We know with how this has played out around the world that we need better ways to be able to manage this condition in the home," he said.
"The virtual service ensures patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 can access medical care while in quarantine or self-isolating and support research against the disease.
"It also helps 'flatten the curve' in the fight against the coronavirus by reducing the spread and by protecting frontline medical staff."
The service offered by Emerald Clinics is aimed at monitoring symptoms in a more automated way, but with an actual doctor on hand to assist when symptom 'red flags' issue alerts and prompt a consult with a patient.
To hold a Telehealth videoconference all a patient needs a computer, tablet or mobile smartphone with a camera, microphone and speakers and a good internet connection.
Though it is currently being used within Emerald's network, Dr Winlo said they will be "ramping up" the service as required and "hope to expand to others particularly those who can't see their usual GP" because of the deadly spread of coronavirus around Australia since March.
"For those people they can deteriorate quite quickly with COVID-19 - you can be well for a few days, your fever might resolve and all of a sudden you might have shortness of breath," Dr Winlo said.
"It's really important to spot when those changes happen and ensure they get the appropriate follow-up."
The added research value of the 'virtual' clinic's regular contact with COVID-19 patients is a positive step to help universities and medical studies into the coronavirus and the race to develop a vaccine, however patient privacy is still at the forefront with the Telehealth COVID Review Service.
"We're not trying to capture too much of the personal health information, we just take the crucial elements," Dr Winlo said.
"We're very explicit about consent. We only take information to help manage their health. We do ask them permission if they want to be identified or anonymous to support the research effort.
"We're still not out of this pandemic by any stretch of the imagination and the case numbers will continue to rise until we have a treatment or vaccine. So it's much better to be over-prepared for this than to be caught on the back foot.
"By the summer there may be a treatment. Some re-purposed medications look promising with anti-viral drugs, but I expect a vaccine into next year."
https://www.9news.com.au/national/c...patients/26818a1d-8a0f-4df0-8b94-065b3a7efb54
