PLUS enhanced care for ATSI Australians Staying Strong telehealth project Feature story • A walk in the park - Team Tunstall • Nurse Ruth - put a spring in your step • Not to be missed - upcoming calendar events • Ask Warren - telehealth troubleshooting /TunstallAustralasia Watch Tunstall telehealth tutorials Transitioning to a Consumer Directed Care model using telehealthcare solutions INDUSTRY CORNER Telehealthcare THE LATEST TUNSTALL AND TELEHEALTHCARE INDUSTRY NEWS EDITION 3 2014
Transcript
PLUS
enhanced care for ATSI AustraliansStaying Strong telehealth project
Feature story
• A walk in the park - Team Tunstall• Nurse Ruth - put a spring in
your step• Not to be missed - upcoming
calendar events• Ask Warren - telehealth
troubleshooting
/TunstallAustralasia
Watch Tunstall
telehealth tutorials
Transitioning to a Consumer Directed Care model using telehealthcare solutions
INDUSTRY CORNER
Telehealthcare THE LATEST TUNSTALL AND TELEHEALTHCARE INDUSTRY NEWS EDITION 3 2014
It’s been a busy time of ‘participation’ for us here at Tunstall over the last few weeks. We’ve been out in the community walking for Parkinson’s, we have attended the Churches of Christ annual dinner which is always a great event and most recently I’ve been involved in the Telstra Awards for Women in Business, which has so far been an amazing experience! Becoming a finalist in these prestigious awards is very exciting and I’ve been very grateful to have had the opportunity to even get this far! If you would like to follow my progress and support me you can visit: http://finalists.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/event
I must say, it’s great being out in the community and sharing experiences with our corporate partners and Parkinson’s is a particularly worthy cause to contribute to. I’m always very proud of the work our staff do and especially so when we can come together for these type of events and show our support.
Inside this edition we feature the Staying Strong Project being delivered by Integrated Living Australia which is being funded under the NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program. Tunstall is providing equipment, software and services to Integrated Living and Indra Arunachalam, Integrated Living’s Project Manager, talks about the impact the service is making to address chronic disease management in rural and remote communities, and how it is helping to deliver a new model of care through telehealth monitoring of vital health signs for 120 older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across New South Wales.
There’s much more inside, with a message from Will Grant our Business Development Manager on how telehealthcare can be used under the new consumer directed care models, there’s a note from Ruth our Clinical Services Manager with practical tips on staying healthy and Warren talks about the Tunstall telehealth system and accessing our customer service and technical support.
Don’t miss the section on our upcoming industry events and if you would like further information on these just visit our website wwwtunstallhealthcare.com.au or phone the customer service team on 1800 603 377, they’ll be happy to help.
Tunstall staff recently participated in Parkinson’s QLD a Walk in the Park, in honour of people in our community living with Parkinson’s.
Over 300 registered participants completed the 4km walk along the Brisbane River boardwalk at New Farm in order to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s disease research and support.
Team Tunstall walk in the park
Connect 2014 Dinner
Congratulations to Lyn
@ParkinsonsQLD
@ChurchesOfChristinQueensland
#TelstraBizWomen
Partner organisation Churches of Christ Care recently held their annual gala dinner at the Royal International Convention Centre. Tunstall was a proud Bronze sponsor of the event, which helped to raise vital funds to support individuals and famiiies affected by homelessness, mental illness, domestic violence, family breakdown and unemployment.
Congratulations to our Managing Director Lyn Davies, who has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2014 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
The Awards recognise amazing business women whose passion, determination, innovation and success inspire other women to walk in their footsteps and reach their own goals.
enhanced care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
The $2.1 million project, originally funded under the NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program, addresses chronic disease management in rural and remote communities, and is helping to deliver a new model of care through telehealth monitoring of vital health signs for 120 older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across New South Wales and Queensland.
Project participants must be 50 years or older and identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
The telehealth monitoring service is currently being provided to participants in Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Toowoomba and Goodna.
Not-for-profit aged care and disability organisation, integratedliving Australia, is breaking new ground with its Staying Strong telehealth project, an Australian Government pilot.
FEATURE STORY
Life Changing, Life Saving 5
The service is delivered both in-home and through telehealth hubs at local Aboriginal Medical Centres which provide a safe and welcoming environment for older Indigenous community members to learn about and use the telehealth service.
integratedliving registered nurses work with participants and their GP to develop individual health and monitoring plans based on health needs.
Using the Tunstall myclinic™ telehealth solution—including a touchscreen tablet, Integrated Care Platform (ICP)™ monitoring software, and vital sign peripherals—participants self monitor their vital health signs.
Health data is transmitted to the ICP triage manager database which prioritises readings for clinical triage. If a reading is outside of the monitoring plan range, ICP triage manager will raise an alert and the nurse will coordinate the appropriate response, in consultation with the participant and their GP or Health Service.
integratedliving Project Manager, Indra Arunachalam said the project has shown an increase in timely and accurate diagnosis, as well as a notable increase in patient awareness and self-management.
“The project also identified that older Indigenous Australians are quite confident using technology. With good internet connection, telehealth monitoring can deliver successful health outcomes for people living in rural and regional Australia,” said Ms Arunachalam. “When I joined the Staying Strong Project my early telehealth readings identified I was experiencing weekly hypoglycaemic episodes,” said Participant C, living with Type 1 diabetes.
“I now take several readings a day and am able to self-identify potential hypoglycaemic attacks and take steps to prevent them.”
The success of the Staying Strong Project has led integratedliving to proceed with a mainstream program rollout of telehealth services to 13 regions across Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Tasmania. Implementation of this new program has been made possible through funding provided by the Australian Government under the Commonwealth HACC Program.
The final evaluation report for the Staying Strong Telehealth Project is due for completion this year. The report will evaluate the enablers and barriers to using telehealth, as well patient health outcomes and improvement to quality of life.
For more information on the Staying Strong telehealth project visit: www.integratedliving.org.au
FEATURE STORY
For further information on Tunstall telehealth solutions, additional clinical research and trial projects contact 1800 603 377 or visit:
Tunstall myclinic@home™Our telehealth solutions support people with long-term health and care needs.
Tunstall myclinic@home™ is a wireless telehealth solution which enables a Tunstall telehealth patient to monitor their vital health signs and symptoms from their own home, with the reassurance that should their readings go beyond set limits, a clinician will be informed.
The myclinic@home™ hub includes; a touchscreen tablet, Tunstall’s flagship Integrated Care Platform (ICP) monitoring software and vital sign peripherals allocated as part of the patient’s individual care plan.
The device also has the capability for high definition, multiparty video conferencing which allows the patient or their onsite clinician to interact with an offsite clinician in a separate location.
READ MORE
SPOTLIGHT
HOW-TO VIDEOS
Telehealth tutorialsStill a little unsure on how to correctly complete and input your vital sign readings into the telehealth hub? Tunstall now has a number of ‘how-to’ videos available to view on our YouTube Channel.
The videos demonstrate how to complete a daily vital sign health check interview using a range of telehealth peripheral devices which interface with the Tunstall myclinic™ hubs.
With clear visual and audio aids, the videos are designed to help refresh your initial product training. The tutorials can also be viewed directly from within the myhelp portal, accessed from the telehealth hub homescreen.
Transitioning to a Consumer Directed Care model using telehealthcare solutions
Keep up with the latest
industry news.Follow Tunstall
on Twitter:@tunstallhcare
INDUSTRY CORNER
The new Consumer Directed Care model is less restrictive and is purposed to expand choice and flexibility of home care, to assist people to remain living at home for as long as possible. Care providers are now being encouraged to use innovative and digital delivery options to provide services to consumers.
As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform, Home Care Packages delivered on a Consumer Directed Care (CDC) basis are being implemented for all new packages of care. Providers are now preparing to transition all existing commonwealth funded packages to this new model by 1 July 2015.
The CDC model is designed to give consumers more choice and control over the types of care and services they receive, how the care is delivered and ultimately who delivers it. Many existing packages in Australia are not traditionally similar to the CDC model, and as such many consumers may find they are now considered ‘over serviced’ in terms of the care they are currently funded for.
What this means for the consumer is they will now need to determine with their care provider what services they require and what they don’t. This transition period may have the potential to cause many consumers and
their carers some distress and anxiety, however this is why the new CDC packages are also recommending the introduction of assistive technology and telehealth solutions.
These technology based solutions may be proposed as a potential service offering to assist with the transition. This could include the use of telehealth, video conferencing and digital technology, such as remote monitoring - assisting with traditional services such as blood pressure monitoring, medication promoting and falls detection.
Tunstall is currently working with many care provider organisations across Australia to deliver tailored solutions to consumers who now find themselves in ‘over serviced’ positions, bringing existing package inline with a new funding allotment.
If you would like further information on how Tunstall may be of assistance during this transition, please call us on 1800 603 377.8 Telehealthcare Times
12 Lockyer Valley Health & Fitness ExpoGatton Sports CentreGatton QLD
20-22 LASA National CongressAdelaide Convention Centre SA
Industry events not to be missed. We invite you to visit us at our Tunstall stand and learn more about our products and services.
October
November
Warren Duce
Telehealthcare Consultant
Tunstall Healthcare
ask warrenWarren, our Telehealthcare Consultant, is one of Tunstall’s longest serving employees, sharing his years of Tunstall wisdom by providing training and support to our customers and installers.
<Q.> There is a fair amount of information for a patient to take in during a telehealth installation. Often they may think of another question to ask after their inital equipment training, that perhaps they didn’t think to ask while our installer was there demonstrating. So where should they go for further help?
<A.> Press the blue ‘Call Tunstall’ button on the home screen of your myclinic telehealth hub to speak with a member of our Clinical Services Team
Call Tunstall on 1800 603 377
Press the myhelp button on your myclinic telehealth home screen to view our Tunstall telehealth tutorial videos (or watch via our Tunstall YouTube channel)
Those short, cold winter days are almost over and summer is just around the corner. Getting into a comfortable fitness routine can be tough, so here are my top tips to help you start and stick with your new spring exercise program.
Start slow, but start! - Set your alarm for half an hour earlier tomorrow morning and make a promise to yourself to get up and get moving! Start slow, take it day-by-day and don’t try to do too much, too quickly. Aim for short 30 minute sessions of low to medium intensity exercise to start. Remember, it takes us 17-21 days to form a habit, so before you know it, it will feel like second nature.
Eat well - Consuming a balanced diet will provide your body with the energy it needs to perform at it’s best and to properly recover after exercise. Opt for balanced, healthy meals and remember to consult a health or nutrition professional for the right advice before beginning any new meal or exercise program.
Bring a friend - If you find time dragging on during your workout, try inviting a friend to train with you. You can inspire and motivate one another towards your fitness goals. With conversation and a bit of a laugh, that workout will fly by.
by Nurse Ruth
Set achievable goals - Your new fitness goals should be kept within reach. If you’ve never been a runner before, don’t start out by entering a half marathon. Set a number of short term goals to reach first, they will keep you motivated and help you work up towards your long term goals.
Track your progress - There is nothing more motivating than realising just how far you have come. In the first week try tracking everything - your food intake, exercise reps, time, distance etc. After one month, look back at your first week and see how far you’ve come.
10 Telehealthcare Times
TUNSTALL TALK
Strive for excellence Make a difference Innovative and Agile Listen and Understand Everybody Matters
“It makes me smile every morning walking in and being greeted and asked about my son, everyone in the office is always caring and willing to help even with my silly questions. The friendly culture at Tunstall has quickly helped me settle into my new role”
Our brand values and goals are critical to the success of both the products and services we provide, and need to be embraced and communicated positively by everyone who is a part of Tunstall.
This edition, Priya Ramji from our Project Management Office shares with us what makes her SMILE about working for Tunstall...
What makes you SMILE ?
Priya Ramji, Projects Administrator
“Why can’t I hear?”SUBMITTED BY A TUNSTALL INSTALLER
I had almost finished my day after starting it in Noosa early and was about to do my last job about one block from home when I received the call...
It was a client explaining that after I had visited and installed the Tunstall unit she had received two or three phone calls during the afternoon but could no longer hear the caller’s voice very well. It seemed unusual, so I told her I would come back out straight away and take a look for her.
After a 40 minute return drive I arrived to find that the handset adjacent the medical alarm was working perfectly. So I asked the client if I could take a look at the other handset.
She returned after retrieving it from the family room and...it turned out that the client’s husband was so keen to not forget to test the pendant daily and then monthly thereafter, he had placed one of the reminder stickers over the ear piece of the hand set...
Like magic, after removing the sticker the client could once again hear clearly.
We encourage our clients to regularly test their pendant. This story made us smile to know our clients are listening to that important message and are diligently putting reminders in place to test each month.
Life Changing, Life Saving 11
Bethlehem Country Club and Tunstall New Zealand have recently completed a successful emergency call system transition for over 100 village residents.
With an existing unsightly hardwired emergency system and multiple phone-lines for internet and conference calling, Village Manager Simon Duncan was expecting a tricky transition.
“With all of the wiring and phone lines, I expected the install to take some time, however with the experience and knowledge of Tunstall’s installers, we were able to avoid any rewiring,” said Mr Duncan.
“We’ve been using the Tunstall solution for over six months now and all of our residents and staff are extremely happy with it.”
The village of 130 homes features medical alarms in all properties, as well as emergency buttons and common area units in risk areas of the Country Club, including the pool, spa and gym.
“The Tunstall emergency call system is simple for our residents to manage and allows us to
perform automated equipment audits, reducing our maintenance visits to each property.
“Another key benefit of the Tunstall system is it is monitored 24/7 locally in Tauranga, with a call continuity procedure for disaster recovery to Australia, reassuring our residents that help will always be available at the press of a button,” Mr Duncan said.
Purchased just over 12 months ago, construction on the Sanderson Group’s newest luxury lifestyle village Bethlehem Shores is already well underway.
Bethlehem Shores will also include the Tunstall emergency call system. The 40 acres of waterfront land, once an avocado and kiwi fruit orchard, will house another 140 stand-alone homes and 60 apartments, as well as a Health Spa and luxurious Village Club House.
NZ CORNER
A timely telecare solution for New Zealand Bethlehem Country Club residents
For further information on Sanderson Group villages visit:
