Northern Sydney Local Health District
The Northern Sydney Local Health District uses Pexip telehealth solutions to support intensive care, aged care, and outpatient services
Challenges
The Northern Sydney Local Health District (LHD), an extensive healthcare network serving hundreds of thousands of residents, was looking for a way to quickly and safely communicate with patients (and allow patients to connect with their loved ones) while maintaining social distancing measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Four types of patients needed particular care and access to video communication:
- Critically ill patients in hospitals, and especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) who needed a way to communicate safely with family and loved ones without breaking quarantine regulations
- Patients in residential healthcare facilities who needed a way to communicate remotely with doctors and other health professionals
- New parents who needed a way to access health care and advice without exposing their children to health risks in a hospital or doctor’s office
- Patients in rural/distant locations who needed a way to access health care without traveling long distances and incurring hefty travel expenses
Working with Pexip, the Northern Sydney Local Health District created multiple customized solutions to provide remote health services, combining telehealth and video conferencing to make their healthcare services safe, efficient, and accessible.
-2.jpeg?width=1000&height=666&name=ICU%20photo%20(1)-2.jpeg)
Why Pexip?
For intensive care patients, the LHD and Pexip provided computers and installed webcams at each bedside so patients can call their loved ones and receive video calls when they want to, without scheduling. Pexip's solutions were well-suited to this use case because of the technology's flexibility and ease of use. Staff were trained in video conferencing software and were on hand to ensure patients, including those with Covid-19, could remain connected to the outside world.
At residential facilities, Pexip and LHD set up a system where appointments over Pexip video can be arranged with clinicians, doctors, or consultants when a resident is acutely unwell. Pexip's solutions are accessible across different devices and browsers, making it a good choice for this type of telehealth, where multiple other users are involved.
"This can be a very efficient way to connect clinicians with an elderly patient who is feeling unwell," says Emily Gregg, Telehealth Project Officer at the LHD. "We can keep our residents in a calm, familiar environment while getting them prompt clinical attention. At the same time, the video consultation provides the medical specialist with visual feedback and information, enabling them to make decisions and provide a responsive care plan quickly."
Another critical area where the LHD has seen positive outcomes using Pexip video communications has been remote telehealth. Previously, rural and regional patients may have had to travel long distances to attend clinical appointments.
Video consultations delivered via Pexip now mean that those who need to see a particular specialist can do so without needing to travel. And for new parents at home with young children, early childhood services such as occupational therapy and speech pathology can also be delivered via Pexip video consultations.
"Using video calls, we can continue to ensure that children are attended to in the safety and security of their own home while receiving services critical to their development," Gregg explains.
