An innovative technology partnership between Byron Bay GP practice Bay Medical and Feros Care Village has received high recognition in the North Coast Primary Health Care Excellence Awards.
The awards, run by the North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN), were announced in Coffs Harbour on 9 September. The inaugural event was a national first for one of the Commonwealth-backed Primary Health Networks and focused on showcasing the work of GPs, allied health practitioners and community health workers throughout the Tweed to Port Macquarie region.
The project, known as the eVillage, was honoured in the Promoting Healthy Living category of the awards. It has established a fast and dependable connection between aged care residents and their GPs through videoconferencing.
Face-to-face contact using iPads or computers enables residents, GPs responsible for their medical care and Feros staff to address the needs of residents with complex conditions.
Over a two-year trial period, Bay Medical conducted more than 400 video calls with Feros Care Village Byron Bay. The project involved four GPs and 48 seniors.
It was found to help avoid 52 hospital admissions, with more timely care advice provided in after-hours situations. Transport costs for seniors were reduced by $40,000.
The weekly ‘virtual clinic’ has been operating for 18 months, and is playing a key role in Feros’s philosophy of providing a positive transition to residential aged care - making pets welcome is another facet.
The use of videoconferencing has resulted in this project receiving an award in both the inaugural North Coast Primary Health Care Excellence Awards and in the 2016 HESTIA Aged Care awards.
NCPHN’s Chief Executive Dr Vahid Saberi said the project is another example of how innovative thinking by clinicians and their health care partners is improving the health and wellbeing of North Coast residents, whether in urban centres or the rural hinterland.
“The Awards are designed to publicly recognise those making a real difference to the community’s wellbeing by honouring their efforts and the proven outcomes of their work,” he added.
http://ncphn.org.au/excellence/ links to background and contact details for all entries.
