RDNS finalist in telehealth project

Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) has been announced as an ‘Outstanding Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Innovation’ finalist for its broadband telehealth project in the prestigious 1st Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards 2013 in Singapore.

RDNS has also been announced as an ‘Outstanding Eldercare Services Innovation’ finalist for its Leg Ulcer Prevention Program (LUPP). This program, developed by researchers and clinicians at the RDNS Institute in Melbourne, uses e-learning materials and activities to deliver best practice recommendations for venous ulcer management.

The awards ceremony will be held today on the opening day of the 4th Ageing Asia Investment Forum. The international event focuses on knowledge exchange and private public partnerships in elderly health care innovations. 

Australia’s RDNS will present the first public demonstration of its telehealth capabilities at the Forum this morning.

The RDNS telehealth project, called Healthy, Happy and at Home, has been in operation for the past two years.

The project is being pioneered with the help of the Victorian government. It falls under the Broadband Enabled Innovation Program (BEIP) initiated by the Department of Business and Innovation. The aim is to help clients remain in their homes for longer and therefore avoid hospital stays. 

It is the principal platform of RDNS’ move into delivering care using high-speed broadband technology and is designed to help address the challenges associated with caring for an ageing population – sometimes termed the ‘Silver Tsunami’.