PROBLEM: Despite its potential to improve service provision for country patients, teleophthalmology is currently underused in Australia. There is an associated lack of cost-effectiveness data for teleophthamology. DESIGN: Retrospective and prospective hospital-based clinical audits of 5456 patients; descriptive survey of available telehealth equipment in 129 regional facilities; cost calculations for teleophthalmology, patient transfers and outreach services. SETTING: Primary (optometry, general practice [GP], Aboriginal Medical Service [AMS]) and secondary (hospital) sites in regional Western Australia; a tertiary hospital in Perth. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Proportion of patients suitable for teleophthalmology; proportion of regional practices with telehealth technology; capital expenditure to equip regional practices for teleophthalmology; total savings from increased utilisation of teleophthalmology. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE: Advocacy for funding, regulatory, training and infrastructure recommendations, in order to support efficient models of teleophthalmology. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: A total of 15% and 24% of urgent patient transfers and outreach consultations, respectively, were found to be suitable for teleophthalmology, equating to a potential total cost saving of $1.1 million/year. Capital expenditure required for basic telehealth equipment was negligible for optometrists, compared to $20 500 per GP/AMS practice. Successful advocacy led to funding, training and policy changes to support optometry-led teleophthalmology for country patients in Australia. LESSONS LEARNT: Public-private partnerships can result in significant cost-savings for the Australian health system. Targeted, evidence-based advocacy can inform government health reforms.
PROBLEM: Despite its potential to improve service provision for country patients, teleophthalmology is currently underused in Australia. There is an associated lack of cost-effectiveness data for teleophthamology. DESIGN: Retrospective and prospective hospital-based clinical audits of 5456 patients; descriptive survey of available telehealth equipment in 129 regional facilities; cost calculations for teleophthalmology, patient transfers and outreach services. SETTING: Primary (optometry, general practice [GP], Aboriginal Medical Service [AMS]) and secondary (hospital) sites in regional Western Australia; a tertiary hospital in Perth. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Proportion of patients suitable for teleophthalmology; proportion of regional practices with telehealth technology; capital expenditure to equip regional practices for teleophthalmology; total savings from increased utilisation of teleophthalmology. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE: Advocacy for funding, regulatory, training and infrastructure recommendations, in order to support efficient models of teleophthalmology. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: A total of 15% and 24% of urgent patient transfers and outreach consultations, respectively, were found to be suitable for teleophthalmology, equating to a potential total cost saving of $1.1 million/year. Capital expenditure required for basic telehealth equipment was negligible for optometrists, compared to $20 500 per GP/AMS practice. Successful advocacy led to funding, training and policy changes to support optometry-led teleophthalmology for country patients in Australia. LESSONS LEARNT: Public-private partnerships can result in significant cost-savings for the Australian health system. Targeted, evidence-based advocacy can inform government health reforms.
Authors: Kehinde Obamiro; Belinda Jessup; Penny Allen; Victoria Baker-Smith; Santosh Khanal; Tony Barnett Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-14 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Nina Tahhan; Belinda Kate Ford; Blake Angell; Gerald Liew; Joseph Nazarian; Glen Maberly; Paul Mitchell; Andrew J R White; Lisa Keay Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-10-05 Impact factor: 2.692