Virtual allied health platform rolls out for remote clients

A 24/7 virtual allied healthcare platform that allows clients to receive support from their homes will be made available by Roper Gulf Regional Council and iAgeHealth.

Typically when a client requires an allied health support, a specialist is required to fly in several times a year to provide the services. This is often costly and time-consuming, as well as having an impact on recovery and treatment times — which in turn negatively affects the quality of life for age care clients.

To assist with this problem, the iAgeHealth program — which is staffed by experienced allied health professionals who are able to assist with recovery following illness or injury, and manage chronic health conditions — removes the barrier of remote living for many clients.

“We are passionate about finding the right solutions to overcome the tyranny of distance and access to regular, experienced clinical staff,” said David Hurst, Acting CEO for Roper Gulf Regional Council.

“As soon as the council recognised iAgeHealth’s allied health services innovative approach, and its ability to address long wait periods, streamline appointment scheduling and provide more affordable options for age care client packages, it was evident that these solutions needed to be integrated into our local communities.

Initially, services within the Roper Gulf will be focused on providing occupational therapy services to conduct home modification assessments, physiotherapy assessments and treatment plans.

Additionally, dietetic meal planning, assessment and monitoring will be provided, as these are the areas of greatest immediate need.

“Our intent with developing iAgeHealth was to meet the needs of our own clients across regional Australia and share that with those areas in greatest need,” said Sue Thomson, CEO of McLean Care, the parent company of iAgeHealth.

“Roper Gulf is a perfect example of an area who continues to work really hard to support local people, but simply cannot offer the same level of support that their counterparts in metro or even regional areas can.

“Access to high-quality clinical care simply isn’t equitable across Australia — and it should be. iAgeHealth means it can be.”

It is expected that, once embedded, the partnership in this area will continue to access more of the specialist services that iAgeHealth provides such as speech pathology and exercise physiologists.

Image credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages