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Telehealth

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program

The National Broadband Network (NBN) Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program aims to demonstrate how the NBN infrastructure enables better access to high quality healthcare services, particularly aged care, palliative care and cancer care, using telehealth services in the home.

On 22 January 2012, the Minister for Health, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, announced the Program.

Invitation to Apply

The Invitation to Apply for Funding (ITA) for the Program was released on 4 April 2012. The ITA for the Program closed at 2pm, 17 May 2012. All applications received by the closing date will be assessed for eligibility and evaluated against the Program’s selection criteria.

What’s Next

The Program is progressing and a decision will be announced following finalisation of the successful applicants.

Contact Us

If you have any enquiries or questions please contact the Department of Health and Ageing via email at NBN telepilots or by phone at (02) 6289 9160. However, please note that we will not be able to advise on the outcome or progress of the assessment process until funding agreements have been executed with successful applicants.

Documentation:

You may also wish to view the following documents:

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program Media Release

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program - Fact Sheet (PDF 138 KB)

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program - Fact Sheet (RTF 3206 KB)

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilot Programs - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 71 KB)

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilot Programs - Frequently Asked Questions (RTF 166 KB)

Overview of the NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program

The $20.6 million NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program (‘the Program’) is a new government initiative in response to the Government’s Digital Economy Goal for health and aged care (see below).

The Program will provide funding to successful proposals for pilot projects to develop and deliver telehealth services to NBN-enabled homes with a focus on aged, palliative or cancer care services, including advance care planning services. By providing better access to health services to homes within NBN early release sites, the Program will investigate and demonstrate opportunities for the extension of telehealth services in the future and the business case for doing so.

The aim of the Program is to develop and trial services which demonstrate how, for example:

• Telehealth services can be delivered to the home in new and innovative ways, enabled by the high speed, reliable broadband provided by the NBN;
• Health services can become more accessible, in regional, rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas;
• Health related transport needs can be reduced;
• Consumers can collaborate and communicate with their carers and health service providers to improve quality of care and health outcomes;
• A reduction in unnecessary hospitalisation;
• Telehealth services are scalable and able to provide an increased volume of care without a corresponding increased cost;
• Location dependent or regional health workforce skills shortages may be mitigated;
• Use of the infrastructure may increase healthcare access and reduce social isolation; and
• Communication during health emergencies could be improved.

Teleheath and eHealth in Australia

Telehealth gives Australians living in rural, remote and outer metropolitan locations greater access to a range of subsidised consultations with GPs and specialists. It bridges the distance between people living in rural or remote Australia with specialist healthcare in a capital city, delivering real-time health consultations online.

While the better use and management of patient health information, shared safely and securely between healthcare organisations via a connected national online system – the Australian Government’s personally controlled electronic health (eHealth) record system – will make the delivery of health care more effective and efficient.

The Australian Government’s personally controlled electronic health (eHealth) record system was launched on 1 July 2012.

People seeking healthcare in Australia can now register for an eHealth record – a secure, electronic summary of your important health information.

The NBN will provide a platform that allows homes, doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies, clinics, aged-care facilities and allied health professionals to connect to affordable, reliable, high-speed and high-capacity broadband. This represents a major opportunity to improve the way healthcare is delivered in Australia.

National Digital Economy Strategy

The Australian Government’s aim is that by 2020, Australia will be among the world’s leading digital economies. Ensuring that Australia becomes a leading digital economy will contribute to Australia’s productivity, maintain our global competitiveness and improve social wellbeing. The Government’s commitment to build the enabling infrastructure for the digital economy, the National Broadband Network (NBN), is a key step towards this vision.

National Digital Economy Strategy

The National Digital Economy Strategy sets out a vision for Australia to realise the benefits of the NBN and position Australia as a leading digital economy by 2020. As part of the government’s digital economy goal for ‘improved health and aged care’, the government will aim to promote the use of individual electronic health records (through the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record system) and will promote the use of telehealth consultations, particularly for people in rural, regional or remote areas.

Further Information

More information on the NBN initiatives and the National Digital Economy Strategy is available at National Broadband Network website and Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

Up-to-date information on the NBN rollout is available at NBN Co website