{"id":8460,"date":"2020-10-19T10:18:11","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T00:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/staff-news\/?p=384"},"modified":"2020-10-19T10:18:11","modified_gmt":"2020-10-19T00:18:11","slug":"virtual-clinics-making-life-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/newsletters\/coh-express\/virtual-clinics-making-life-easier","title":{"rendered":"Virtual clinics making life a lot easier"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Virtual

Diabetes virtual clinic with Kerry Porter and Danika Vella<\/p><\/div>\n

For mum of three and Kilcoy resident Danika Vella the expansion of Metro North\u2019s virtual diabetes clinics has made it easier to juggle life, work, health and family pressures. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Danika, who has diabetes, had to attend regular specialist and diabetes appointments in Brisbane to help monitor her ongoing health, as well as the concerns of her children.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s made life a lot easier to not have to travel or take time off of work to attend an appointment, as you often have to take the kids with you,\u201d Danika said.<\/p>\n

The primary school teacher of 20 years would often take regular trips to Caboolture or Brisbane to attend her diabetes appointments.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery three months we also had to go see a paediatrician for my children,\u201d Danika said. \u201cThe virtual clinics are a lot more convenient without the travel and it feels like you are in the room with the Nurse Practitioner or doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have to leave my house and can still be there for the kids. There is no traffic, no stress and you don\u2019t have to find a car park.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diabetes Service Nurse Practitioner Kerry Porter said we have been trialling virtual clinics in Metro North for some time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe COVID-19 response has seen us fast track our virtual clinic use, supported by the expansion of telehealth technology,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween March and June 2020, close to 400 virtual appointments have been offered through the Metro North Diabetes Service.<\/p>\n

\u201cVirtual clinics do not replace all face to face appointments but provide another tool or option for patient care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kerry said the increase use of virtual clinics was not only safe, but time efficient for the patient as it allows the clinician to view the patients results remotely which the patient can upload from the comfort of their home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have found that patients are attending more regularly, as the cost of travelling to centres can be an issue for many,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn future we expect that the use of telehealth will expand as we introduce more equipment into our community-based clinics \u2013 with virtual clinics the way of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Danika said technology use in health was very important for people living in remote areas like Kilcoy to help access more health services.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the increased use of mobile diabetes technology and devices to record and monitor patient conditions is increasing the effectiveness and safety of virtual clinics.<\/p>\n

The Community and Oral Health Diabetes Service is offered at Caboolture Community Health Centre, Chermside Community Health Centre and North Lakes Health Precinct, and also supports patients in The Prince Charles, Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospitals.<\/p>\n

View the virtual diabetes video:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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