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While the COVID-19 pandemic helped increase the demand for accessing health services via telephone and video calls, the local health service is confident the popularity of telehealth will remain beyond the pandemic.
“During the stay at home restrictions, many clients had appointments with their GP over the phone instead of going into the clinic, and we’ve also found a number of our other services were also able to be provided using telehealth,” Mallee Track Health and Community Services Chief Executive Officer Lois O’Callaghan said.
“For example, during lockdown, residents needing podiatry care took photos on their phones and sent these to the podiatry team so they could work out appropriate care solutions, and our team also sent out Foot Health Care Packs to stay in touch with clients. While our podiatry services are now able to hold more clinics, it has still shown us what telehealth can do.”
The health service is also using telehealth methods to provide a range of other services and activities, such as tai chi and video-chat visits for residents in aged care.
Ms O’Callaghan said telehealth was a good option especially for rural communities and people who are elderly or vulnerable because it could save some of the inconvenience of having to travel to specialists several hours away or in major cities.
“Telehealth is not always a suitable way to provide healthcare, but when it is, it can be a very valuable way of making sure people across our catchment get the care they need,” she said.
“People living in the Mallee Track catchment – Murrayville, Underbool, Ouyen, Patchewollock and Sea Lake districts - often have to travel to Adelaide, Mildura, Bendigo or Melbourne for specialist appointments which can be quite expensive and mean at least a day away from work or school.

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