1. Using the Internet to
Enhance Treatment
Services
Low Cost, Low Tech
APSAD Conference 2013
Ray Stephens – Online Project Leader

2. “The community services system needs to be
focused on digital technology opportunities
and prepared for the changes and
challenges it will bring”.
(Shergold, 2013)

5. Telehealth
Portable kiosks

6. Current
climate
• Pressures on health funding
• AOD service reforms
• NBN, ehealth, telemedicine,
smartphones, increasing use of internet
for health and health information
• = focus on technology to increase
access, timeliness, reduce costs

7. “Digital Health feels like the PC
industry in the early ’80′s.”
John Sculley – Former CEO of Apple and PepsiCo –
Digital Health Summit, January 2012

9. “80% of what doctors do today
will be replaced by technology in
10 years.”
Vinod Khosla - Sun Microsystems co founder, 2013

10. 1993
1960

11. Telehealth
An estimated 1.8 million
patients will be treated through
telehealth worldwide by 2017.

12. Low Cost
Low Tech?
iPads for remote monitoring
Self - help courses
Promotion of online screening tools
Social media
Education via webinar
Video conferencing

13. Low Cost
Low Tech?
iPads for remote monitoring
Online self - help courses
Promotion of online screening tools
Social media
Education via webinar
Video conferencing

14. Remote
barriers
•
•
•
•
< 18 y.o. male
Youth outreach worker fortnightly
Requires inpatient youth detox
Lives in Corryong

15. Gaps
Cost of transport
Time in travelling
Separation from family
Multiple workers involved
= engagement?

16. Accessing
assessment
•
•
•
•
4 bus trips
2 train trips
2 taxi rides
An overnight hotel stay
• Video assessment

17. Videoconferencing
Project
•
•
•
•
2 year trial
Using videoconferencing for remote assessments
Access to Williams House Youth Resi Withdrawal
Statewide catchment

18. Videoconferencing
Project - Aims
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reduced travel time – staff, client, family
Reduced costs
Improved assessments, timely responses
Demystify
Engagement
Collaboration

19. Videoconferencing
Project - Cost
•
•
•
•
~ $15K setup
Using Microsoft Lync
Free to partners
Can be done for free (or a webcam)

20. Videoconferencing
Project - Progress
•
•
•
•
Conducting assessments with 2 rural agencies
Positive client experiences
Positive staff experiences
“It has confirmed that we have opened a new door
for allowing access to remote clients to our service
and reducing barriers.”
Remote staff member

21. Videoconferencing
Project - Learnings
•
•
•
•
Needs to be integrated
Technical issues, firewalls, sound, ongoing
Change is slow – training and lots of support
Staff will find other uses

22. Pie in the sky
Online treatment
5 years from now what might you be doing?
• With clients
• Within your organisation
• With other organisations
What are the barriers?

23. Resources
http://www.scoop.it/t/telehealth-ehealth-videoconferencing
rstephens@regen.org.au