Qld technology trials improving health care access

AD and their families promptly pursuing financial planning and transfer of financial responsibilities.

The research team noted that caregiving families can be proactive at the earliest sign of Alzheimer’s by finalizing trust and estate arrangements, delegating financial decision-making powers, planning for eventual financial incapacity, and providing increased supervision of existing financial activities.

The University of Queensland is conducting a tele-health rehabilitation trial in Cairns. This involves patients having speech pathology, physiotherapy or occupational therapy assessments and treatment via the Internet.

Dr Trevor Russell, an inventor of the system, said it allowed allied health professionals to undertake clinical measurements such as gait analysis and swallow assessments from wherever the patient might be located.

Dr Russell said the eHAB trial would be evaluated to determine how much patient and staff travel time it saved, as well as gauging improvements in access for patients in country areas.

“We expect there will be improvements in all these areas,” Dr Russell said.

A similar trial will begin shortly through Toowoomba Hospital.