New technology brings specialist expertise to rural hospitals and nursing homes

A new integrated video-conference suite has been launched at UQ School of Medicine’s Centre for Research in Geriatric Medicine.

The suite is designed primarily to enable video-consultation to rural hospitals for individual clinicians. The room has customised lighting, sound treatment, computers and video-conferencing equipment.

Ward rounds and individual consultations are performed with the clinician having access to clinical records, clinical decision support software, note taking, pathology and ultimately radiology, while interacting with patients and staff.

“Having this vital information at your fingertips is making ward rounds so much more productive,” Centre Director, Professor Len Gray said.

Funding of $45,000 for the suite was provided by the Geriatric Medical Foundation of Queensland, which for many years has provided ongoing financial support for the “Masonic Chair in Geriatric Medicine”.

The Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, Mr Graeme Ewin, presented the cheque to Professor Len Gray at the launch.

“The suite will be an integral part of the Centre’s effort to take specialist expertise to small rural hospitals and nursing homes,” Professor Len Gray said.

The “telegeriatrics” research agenda is exploring service models that make distribution of specialist expertise cost effective. Staff and patient acceptance, reliability of clinical decision making by video-consultation, and cost are all important facets of the research.

The suite was designed and the fit out supervised by the UQ Centre for Online Health.

Media: Professor Len Gray +61 7 31765530 or School of Medicine, Brian Mallon 040 3 621109