Residents at the RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Village are in for better health services, with a new Visionflex telehealth cart set to support telehealth appointments.
A show and tell demonstration will be held on January 23, where real-time diagnostic tools that will be used to support telehealth appointments will be outlined.
With the help of grant funding from Primary Health Network, RFBI has bought Visionflex telehealth carts, the leading telehealth solution, for 19 of their 22 residential care villages.
The carts allow health professionals to utilise a range of real time diagnostic equipment, making telehealth appointments more comprehensive and efficient.
The Visionflex technology also allows family members to be part of the telehealth appointment, even if they cannot be in the village with the resident.
RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Village General Manager James McKivat-Figallo said the most significant benefit of the carts is the ability to connect all of the people with an interest in the resident for the telehealth appointment.
“We can connect the resident with their loved ones, a GP, a Registered Nurse and a specialist all on the one call, which aids information sharing and allows for quick action to be taken on any issues identified,” he said.
“Having familiar people around, especially for residents with dementia, reduces confusion and makes consultations more comfortable for them.
“Through the Visionflex telehealth solution, we can all work together to reach the best possible outcome for the resident.”
McKivat said one particularly helpful feature is the wound camera, which can send a high-quality picture straight to the specialist, reducing the need for an on-site visit or transporting the resident to the specialist’s location.
“I think the wound camera will be particularly useful for our residents,” he said.
“Being able to take consistent very high-quality images allows medical practitioners to better evaluate how a wound is healing and if further interventions are required.”
Visionflex has been rolled out at 12 other RFBI villages across NSW so far, RFBI with positive feedback from residents and health professionals.
RFBI was founded in 1880, to assist those in need at a time when there were no Government-funded social welfare programs.
Since opening its first aged care village in 1973, RFBI has responded to the issue of Australia’s ageing population and diversified its caring and benevolent role in the community with the development of aged care services.
It currently owns and operates 22 residential care villages and 20 retirement villages, providing comfortable and attractive homes for older Australians as well as home care services, enabling people to live safely in their own homes for longer.