Report No. 55 - Inquiry into telehealth services in Queensland

Committee Details

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Report

On 12 September 2014, the Committee tabled its Report No. 55, Inquiry into telehealth services in Queensland. A copy of the report is available here or can be accessed under the 'Related Publications' tab.

On 12 December 2014, the Minister for Health tabled the Queensland government’s response to the report – available here.

Overview

The Health and Community Services Committee is inquiring into telehealth services in public sector health services. The inquiry will consider the implementation of telehealth by the Department of Health and Hospital and Health Services, including the Rural Telehealth Service that was announced in the Blueprint for better healthcare in Queensland.

Terms of Reference

In accordance with section 94 of the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001, the committee has resolved to undertake an inquiry into telehealth services managed by the Department of Health and delivered by the Department and Hospital and Health Services.

For the purposes of this inquiry the committee has adopted the definition of telehealth used by the Department of Health in its 2012-13 Annual Report; the definition is reproduced below.

In conducting its inquiry the committee will:

  • examine the implementation of the telehealth service by the Department of Health and Hospital and Health Services in trials, pilot and other sites, including:
    • expenditure and budget
    • governance arrangements
    • models of service delivery
    • technology and communication systems capacity and capability
    • patients, clinicians and health staff perceptions and experiences of telehealth
    • the outcomes of trials and pilot projects
    • quality of patient care
    • access to health services, particularly in rural and remote locations
  • consider the value for money of the delivery of telehealth services
  • examine the factors that support successful implementation of telehealth services and identify any barriers to successful implementation
  • consider strategies to address any barriers to successful implementation of telehealth services in Queensland.

Definition of telehealth

“Delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunication technologies, including:

  • live, audio and/or video interactive links for clinical consultations and educational purposes
  • store-and-forward telehealth, including digital images, video, audio and clinical (stored) on a client computer, then transmitted securely (forwarded) to a clinic at another location where they are studied by relevant specialists
  • teleradiology for remote reporting and clinical advice for diagnostic images
  • telehealth services and equipment to monitor people in their home.”

View: Department of Health, 2012-13 Annual Report

View: Printable version of Terms of Reference

Public hearings and briefings

Brisbane - 31 July Public Hearing - Department of Health

Brisbane - 21 May

Brisbane - 9 May -  Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN)

5 March - Briefing by the Department of Health

Consumer Forums

The committee held consumer forums in Roma (29 May 2014) and Cairns (17 June 2014) to hear from people who have used telehealth, or who may be interested in using telehealth as an alternative to travelling to appointments at a public hospital or health service.

Clinician roundtable discussion

The committee held a Clinician Roundtable Discussion in Brisbane on 4 August 2014.

Submissions

  • Submissions closed 5 May 2014
  • See 'Submissions' tab at the top of the page for submissions accepted by the committee.
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Related Publications

Publication Details Type Published Date Tabled Date Committee Name