Maryborough district rolls out Telstra Health’s virtual monitoring service

Victoria’s Maryborough District Health Service has rolled out Telstra Health’s Virtual Health Monitoring service to monitor patients remotely.

Virtual Health Monitoring is an integrated, at-home solution which allows patients to track and submit their pulse and oxygen saturation using a SpO2 pulse oximeter, temperature, blood glucose, weight and blood pressure.

The digital health platform uses Telstra Health’s MyCareManager patient app with data sent to a web-based portal at the health service via Bluetooth. Patients can also manually submit vital signs and symptoms.

According to Telstra Health, the service is being offered to patients who are directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or are considered to be vulnerable or at-risk, such as those with pre-existing chronic conditions or who are undergoing treatments which can weaken their immune systems.

Clinicians monitoring patients are alerted if they begin to deteriorate and are able to contact patients through a video call that connects directly to the patient’s mobile device.

Telstra Health says the modular solution is also able to support resource management at Maryborough District Health Service by digitising usual and emergency care practises and freeing up capacity and unnecessary hospitalisations or emergency department presentations within hospitals for patients who are more critical.

Project lead for MyCareManager Chelsea Walker said the new service will not only help to keep vulnerable patients safe in their own environment, but also decrease the overall anxiety of being discharged to home, by having a health professional monitor the patient 24/7.