HealthEngine Releases Report on Australia's Uptake of Telehealth

Perth, 5 August 2020:  While COVID-19 served as a catalyst for the uptake of telehealth, a new report from HealthEngine provides a snapshot of the early telehealth experience from across Australia and the opportunities ahead.  As the leading healthcare and telehealth destination, HealthEngine identified learnings and insights from its work to help connect GP and patients via telehealth. Topline learnings included:

●      Continuity of Care: Most people looked to their regular GP or local provider first for telehealth

●      GPs Turning to Telehealth: 1 in 4 GP practices on HealthEngine offered telehealth

●      After Hours Care: GPs from four dedicated virtual care groups covered 92% of late night appointments

●      Telehealth Generation: Millennials accounted for 43% of telehealth use

●      Top 3 States for Telehealth Adoption: ACT, WA and NSW

●      Top 5 Cities for Telehealth Use: Bathhurst (NSW), Nowra-Bomaderry (NSW), Busselton (WA), Rockhampton (QLD) and Wollongong (NSW)

●      Phone vs Video: Majority of appointments via phone, but some patients want more video

The Uptake of Telehealth: HealthEngine Insights Report is available at https://hepress.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Uptake-of-Telehealth-HealthEngine-Insights.pdf  and brings together findings from The Uptake of Telehealth Dashboard and a post-telehealth appointment patient/consumer survey. The interactive Uptake of Telehealth Dashboard,  linked in the report, allows you to look at national data or breakdowns by state and territories, generations and/or by April-June time period.

Dr Marcus Tan, CEO of HealthEngine said, “Creating more access to telehealth for people across Australia builds on HealthEngine’s belief in the power of connectivity, simplicity and the ability for positive patient experiences to create better healthcare outcomes. With recent telehealth reforms announced and continued reviews ahead, we hope the report contributes to the conversation on the future of telehealth and its role in filling healthcare gaps due to timing, location, situation or patient’s choice during or beyond the pandemic.” 

-ENDS-