The government is betting big on remote healthcare, announcing a new 24/7 telehealth service. But virtual treatment is not always a substitute for IRL care, GPs warn.
Telehealth, especially with someone who isn't your usual GP is really only suitable in limited circumstances and certainly not all. It's almost an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Consistency of care with the same GP has a huge amount of benefits for patients and doctors alike, huge amounts of research supports this.
The govts health initiative ignores the elephant in the room. Tele health is good in remote locations where specialists are not available and also for monitoring patients, particularly older people. But a GP or specialist at the end of the computer link is still needed . It has limitations. It depends on a high degree of patient health literacy and it gives a kind of tunnel vision picture. And the patient has no backup services available, e.g. surgery, if these are needed. It is a siloed approach which ignores the interaction between different departments of medicine, surgical and technical teams.
Health is complex and this govt just doesn't get it with their one size fits all and simplistic solutions.
Overall the package seems like an attempt to mollify the public rather than address the real problems. Govt would do better to focus on improving equity among medical graduates, including the thousands of people who graduate from med school but never make it into an internship and improving access for doctors trained outside of NZ.
This is another step backwards for our beleaguered health system. For goodness sake just fund general practices sufficiently to employ well qualified staff, and let them get on with the work that they are already well-prepared for.
Looks like GP's still know a thing or two about medicine. I mean, electrons are always involved in healthcare, but tend to come with a few protons and neutrons as well.
🤷Wilfully obtuse =this govt & healthcare. As others say, fund what we have adequately. Telehealth using overseas Drs is a potential minefield 1) they would have to fully cogniscent of all the options available such as prescription access for various groups & ALL of the drugs that are/are not available here & how accessible etc 2) it is not in dispute that Maori & Pacifica people have specific issues & inherited medical tendencies, not to mention cultural differences that are essential to take into consideration - etc
Telehealth, especially with someone who isn't your usual GP is really only suitable in limited circumstances and certainly not all. It's almost an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Consistency of care with the same GP has a huge amount of benefits for patients and doctors alike, huge amounts of research supports this.
The govts health initiative ignores the elephant in the room. Tele health is good in remote locations where specialists are not available and also for monitoring patients, particularly older people. But a GP or specialist at the end of the computer link is still needed . It has limitations. It depends on a high degree of patient health literacy and it gives a kind of tunnel vision picture. And the patient has no backup services available, e.g. surgery, if these are needed. It is a siloed approach which ignores the interaction between different departments of medicine, surgical and technical teams.
Health is complex and this govt just doesn't get it with their one size fits all and simplistic solutions.
Overall the package seems like an attempt to mollify the public rather than address the real problems. Govt would do better to focus on improving equity among medical graduates, including the thousands of people who graduate from med school but never make it into an internship and improving access for doctors trained outside of NZ.
This is another step backwards for our beleaguered health system. For goodness sake just fund general practices sufficiently to employ well qualified staff, and let them get on with the work that they are already well-prepared for.
Just fund te Whatu Ora properly for heaven's sake!
Looks like GP's still know a thing or two about medicine. I mean, electrons are always involved in healthcare, but tend to come with a few protons and neutrons as well.
🤷Wilfully obtuse =this govt & healthcare. As others say, fund what we have adequately. Telehealth using overseas Drs is a potential minefield 1) they would have to fully cogniscent of all the options available such as prescription access for various groups & ALL of the drugs that are/are not available here & how accessible etc 2) it is not in dispute that Maori & Pacifica people have specific issues & inherited medical tendencies, not to mention cultural differences that are essential to take into consideration - etc
Mortgage arrears AND company defaults are up, including company liquidations. Hmmm