The 62-year-old Parkinson’s Disease sufferer was at the end of her tether earlier this year, travelling to and from John Hunter Hospital for regular treatment and medical assessments.

The constant travel and the stress of waiting to see a doctor only compounded her symptoms but in February Jenni was introduced to telehealth.

Diagnosed in 2006, Jenni currently sees a private specialist, but has also sought the services of John Hunter Hospital’s neurology department regarding her condition.

The hospital’s Parkinson’s Disease Coordinator Evelyn Collins set Jenni up on a trial of new therapy that involves infusions. Evelyn spent a day and a half with Jenni in her home setting up telehealth and then continued to monitor her on the trial via telehealth from her office at the hospital. This way they could discuss the dosage and make adjustments virtually.

“Before telehealth I was in a terrible place. It was an endless procession to John Hunter Hospital. The travel, the waiting to see a doctor, the stress and anxiety it was all taking a toll," she said. “Telehealth is direct contact with the person you want to speak to. They are my loungeroom with me via my ipad,” she said.

Clinical Business Analyst and HNEH’stelehealth coordinator Ashley Young said the use of telehealth technologies, that is, the secure and confidential transmission of videoconferenced healthcare, is rapidly growing around the world, and particularly in our local health district. 

“HNEH is a leader in delivery of fast, accessible and equitable telehealth services to regional hospitals, patients at home, within GP practices and in aged care facilities,” Ashley said.

Telehealth is a key tool for communicating between clinicians and between clinicians and patients. “We have been in increasing the use of this technology since 2002. It is a strategic priority for the district as a mode of delivering of healthcare since 2014.

“This year our patients have saved almost 900,000kms of travel, $1.5m in related costs and over 1400 nights by using telehealth.”