Explain how remote monitoring technology reduces the burden on Australia's healthcare system. (5 marks)
--- 15 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---
Show Answers Only
Home monitoring prevents hospital admissions
- Telehealth devices track vital signs at home for chronic disease patients. This works by alerting healthcare workers to changes before emergencies occur.
- Supporting the use of this technology is a CSIRO telehealth trial that showed hospital admissions were reduced by over 50% for users.
- This creates significant cost savings given a hospital bed overnight stay costs around $2000.
Early intervention shortens hospital stays
- Remote monitoring enables doctors to detect problems quickly. This happens because devices can communicate real-time data about measurements such as heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.
- Consequently, if patients do need hospitalisation, stays are much shorter.
- This in turn frees up beds for other patients.
Technology reduces healthcare visits
- Patients manage conditions from home using monitoring equipment. This leads to fewer GP visits, specialist appointments, and procedures.
- The reason for this is that continuous monitoring generates better disease management.
- Therefore, healthcare professionals can focus on patients who need immediate care.
- This demonstrates why the return on investment into remote monitoring technology is estimated at 5:1.
Show Worked Solution
Home monitoring prevents hospital admissions
- Telehealth devices track vital signs at home for chronic disease patients. This works by alerting healthcare workers to changes before emergencies occur.
- Supporting the use of this technology is a CSIRO telehealth trial that showed hospital admissions were reduced by over 50% for users.
- This creates significant cost savings given a hospital bed overnight stay costs around $2000.
Early intervention shortens hospital stays
- Remote monitoring enables doctors to detect problems quickly. This happens because devices can communicate real-time data about measurements such as heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.
- Consequently, if patients do need hospitalisation, stays are much shorter.
- This in turn frees up beds for other patients.
Technology reduces healthcare visits
- Patients manage conditions from home using monitoring equipment. This leads to fewer GP visits, specialist appointments, and procedures.
- The reason for this is that continuous monitoring generates better disease management.
- Therefore, healthcare professionals can focus on patients who need immediate care.
- This demonstrates why the return on investment into remote monitoring technology is estimated at 5:1.