It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas.

Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a doctor. Others spend weeks waiting for an appointment. That was until telehealth entered the fray.

Virtual medical assistance has been a game-changer for the healthcare sector. Telehealth became a crucial part of Australian healthcare during the pandemic and remains so today.

Sustaining telehealth and making sure the quality of care on offer is nothing short of world-class has been difficult, but the service is here to stay.

It has become a permanent option for people who need medical assistance, and platforms such as Medicompare are helping Australians make sense of it all.

Information about telehealth can be overwhelming, but Medicompare makes it easy to compare providers and find trusted, affordable care, fast.

Telehealth companies such as InstantScripts, Hola and Updoc are major players in Australia. They offer a range of virtual healthcare services, bringing affordable care directly to patients' fingertips.

Visionflex and BHP Take Telehealth to the Masses

The recent partnership between Visionflex (VFX) and BHP epitomises the importance of telehealth and how much of an impact it is making in the healthcare sector.

The agreement will pour around $400,000 into VFX’s coffers in the first year and another $400,000 in revenue from hardware and annual software subscriptions.

In return, the telehealth technology powerhouse will deliver virtual care solutions across 13 remote medical centres servicing BHP’s workforce in Western Australia.

The goal is to get them better access to healthcare from their remote sites. VFX will deploy advanced all-in-one telehealth carts and mobile kits installed on emergency helicopters.

This means BHP wouldn’t have to spend much on medical evacuations anymore. It would also reduce travel expenses for onsite personnel.

VFX systems can capture high-definition images, vital signs and diagnostic-quality video, allowing healthcare professionals to make accurate and timely decisions from afar.

This kind of access means that a miner suffering from chest pain or an infection doesn’t have to wait hours for an airlift. They can be examined immediately and receive medical assistance on the spot.

BHP believe in the long-term value of VFX’s solution so much that they’ve agreed to fund everything the telehealth company will need to cover both hardware and software costs.

VFX plan to complete the full roll-out of virtual care for BHP by the end of June.

Chief executive officer Josh Mundey said the solution will deliver significant operational benefits to BHP and have a positive impact on employee wellbeing. 

“This partnership will enable us to deliver robust, real-time clinical support and enhanced healthcare to BHP’s staff at various remote sites,” he said. 

“We are determined to make high-quality care accessible to every community, and our engagement with BHP marks a significant milestone in that commitment.”

This virtual set-up will be crucial in managing chronic conditions without needing patients to go through long and stressful journeys just to get a doctor’s opinion.

VFX’s tech isn’t exclusive to those on the front line. The company is also dipping its toes into aged care.

The company signed a 15-month deal with Amplar Home Health in April that ensures older Australians have access to consistent and timely medical care.

The first project will focus on getting virtual nursing services and personalised clinical care to at least 30 residential aged care homes across Australia.

This initiative will get elderly residents the medical assistance they need from specialists without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

They can be diagnosed, treated and monitored by specialists, and this telehealth service will be even more beneficial for aged care homes in rural and remote areas.

Why Telehealth Matters for Regional and Rural Australia

VFX and BHP are on to something with their telehealth partnership, but those services could also be used to sort out the long-standing issue of health inequality in Australia.

Many Australians who live outside metropolitan areas have limited access to healthcare. They must deal with the distance to hospitals, long waiting lists and a shortage of healthcare professionals.

For some, a simple check-up could cost them a 200-kilometre drive. For others, the closest general practitioner (GP) might be booked out for weeks. This is why telehealth is hugely important. 

Video conferencing and other secure digital forms of communication have paved the way for patients to consult GPs, receive prescriptions, get referrals and even receive mental health support without leaving home. 

Virtual care saves lives, especially for those managing life-threatening illnesses or facing mental health struggles.

Even night-time support and weekend access are now within the grasp of those living in remote towns, so if a patient needs an urgent prescription, telehealth can provide one in minutes.

Telehealth also reduces the burdens on local doctors, who are often overstretched. If Australia gets it right, virtual care could be the future of the healthcare sector.

Visionflex and BHP Take Telehealth to the Masses

The recent partnership between Visionflex (VFX) and BHP epitomises the importance of telehealth and how much of an impact it is making in the healthcare sector.

The agreement will pour around $400,000 into VFX’s coffers in the first year and another $400,000 in revenue from hardware and annual software subscriptions.

In return, the telehealth technology powerhouse will deliver virtual care solutions across 13 remote medical centres servicing BHP’s workforce in Western Australia.

The goal is to get them better access to healthcare from their remote sites. VFX will deploy advanced all-in-one telehealth carts and mobile kits installed on emergency helicopters.

This means BHP wouldn’t have to spend much on medical evacuations anymore. It would also reduce travel expenses for onsite personnel.

VFX systems can capture high-definition images, vital signs and diagnostic-quality video, allowing healthcare professionals to make accurate and timely decisions from afar.

This kind of access means that a miner suffering from chest pain or an infection doesn’t have to wait hours for an airlift. They can be examined immediately and receive medical assistance on the spot.

BHP believe in the long-term value of VFX’s solution so much that they’ve agreed to fund everything the telehealth company will need to cover both hardware and software costs.

VFX plan to complete the full roll-out of virtual care for BHP by the end of June.

Chief executive officer Josh Mundey said the solution will deliver significant operational benefits to BHP and have a positive impact on employee wellbeing. 

“This partnership will enable us to deliver robust, real-time clinical support and enhanced healthcare to BHP’s staff at various remote sites,” he said. 

“We are determined to make high-quality care accessible to every community, and our engagement with BHP marks a significant milestone in that commitment.”

This virtual set-up will be crucial in managing chronic conditions without needing patients to go through long and stressful journeys just to get a doctor’s opinion.

VFX’s tech isn’t exclusive to those on the front line. The company is also dipping its toes into aged care.

The company signed a 15-month deal with Amplar Home Health in April that ensures older Australians have access to consistent and timely medical care.

The first project will focus on getting virtual nursing services and personalised clinical care to at least 30 residential aged care homes across Australia.

This initiative will get elderly residents the medical assistance they need from specialists without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

They can be diagnosed, treated and monitored by specialists, and this telehealth service will be even more beneficial for aged care homes in rural and remote areas.

Why Telehealth Matters for Regional and Rural Australia

VFX and BHP are on to something with their telehealth partnership, but those services could also be used to sort out the long-standing issue of health inequality in Australia.

Many Australians who live outside metropolitan areas have limited access to healthcare. They must deal with the distance to hospitals, long waiting lists and a shortage of healthcare professionals.

For some, a simple check-up could cost them a 200-kilometre drive. For others, the closest general practitioner (GP) might be booked out for weeks. This is why telehealth is hugely important. 

Video conferencing and other secure digital forms of communication have paved the way for patients to consult GPs, receive prescriptions, get referrals and even receive mental health support without leaving home. 

Virtual care saves lives, especially for those managing life-threatening illnesses or facing mental health struggles.

Even night-time support and weekend access are now within the grasp of those living in remote towns, so if a patient needs an urgent prescription, telehealth can provide one in minutes.

Telehealth also reduces the burdens on local doctors, who are often overstretched. If Australia gets it right, virtual care could be the future of the healthcare sector.