Today, gaining access to health-related services and information is no longer an obstacle. Thanks to the widespread use of Telehealth in Australia, you can now talk to a healthcare expert with just a phone call or video call away. In addition, virtual Telehealth doctors’ appointments or consultations are at your fingertips as long as telecommunication technologies and internet connections are available.
In light of the Covid-19, Telehealth is more significant than ever and comes in handy for people in need. Undoubtedly, that includes people with disabilities from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS). NDIS participants from Posity find themselves being supported tremendously via Telehealth Melbourne. As an alternate way of delivering quality healthcare services, Telehealth brings choices among our NDIS participants to access therapy services and consultation on their terms. What’s more, NDIS services such as Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy are readily available at Posity via Telehealth.
In fact, 63% of 2391 participants receive NDIS funded allied healthcare services via Telehealth. The same survey from The University of Melbourne in collaboration with the National Disability Insurance Agency found that 11-13% believed that virtual consultations were better than attending the appointment in person. Forthwith, let’s dive deep and learn about how access to NDIS with Telehealth benefits you. Also, we will be looking at the concerns faced by the NDIS participants today. So, is Telehealth here to stay?
Table of Contents
Why Should You Consider Accessing NDIS with Telehealth?
Telehealth in Australia has revolutionised how people with disability access NDIS via Posity in Melbourne. Moreover, NDIS participants under our care can be their most relaxing selves whilst connecting with us. With just a few clicks on the virtual appointment platform via mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop, Telehealth bridges the gap between our NDIS participants and care experts from other corners of Melbourne. All in all, here are the benefits of accessing NDIS via Telehealth technology with Posity.
All-in-one Accessibility to Flexible NDIS Services
Telehealth made remote allied services possible when it comes to our Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. Through online consultation, our allied health professionals will work with you to give you the best NDIS care possible virtually. Furthermore, you will have more choices and control over accessing the NDIS therapeutic services via Telehealth. You can choose your preferred time and be at any corner of your house or any indoor space, as long as there is an internet connection. No more worrying about arranging disabled-friendly transportation or asking for someone’s assistance in reaching the venue of appointments.
Save Time & Travel-related Costs
Speaking of saving yourself from booking a disabled-friendly ride, you can save time from travelling to and fro. Save your precious time from getting out and about and queueing up uneasily with others. Furthermore, Telehealth empowers NDIS participants who require services that are not in the area. Via your chosen electronic device, you are no longer limited to geographical services. Posity works with Telehealth so that you can access both our Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, regardless of location. In addition, you can save money without the need to spend on travel-related costs such as driver’s fees and petrol costs.
Get the Most out of Your NDIS Plan
Maximise your NDIS plan with Telehealth as NDIS services via a virtual platform will incur the same hourly rate as face-to-face sessions. There is no need to pay for additional costs of travel and transportation when you receive our allied services via Telehealth. And with that, you can reserve the funds for the particular therapeutic service you receive from Posity.
Reduce the Exposure & Spread of Dangerous Illnesses
The highest level of social distancing is made possible with Telehealth. It helps with the continuity of allied care in Posity amid trying times of Covid-19 and beyond. You get to continue your goal-achieving journey and discover your potential with your usual therapist via Telehealth. Attending virtual appointments can prevent us from the potential infection in high-risk environments. Together, let’s reduce the spread of illness by staying within our NDIS allied service within reach via mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop.
Comfort & Reduced Stress
Telehealth comes in handy for those who have difficulties in mobility for a short period or permanently. You get to access our allied health-related support from the comfort of your own home. Similarly, Telehealth supports NDIS participants with anxiety, agoraphobia or other mental health issues that prevent them from getting help in the flesh. They can receive our allied care without the need to leave their comfort zones. Moreover, working adults with busy schedules can talk to us from office space without employers’ leave permits.
Mutual Enrichment among Parents & Therapists
Rest assured that only qualified and patient therapists deliver our Telehealth Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy to help you. The Telehealth guidelines for our allied health therapists ensure the quality of their expertise does not get trimmed down whatsoever. Additionally, Telehealth platforms construct an environment for parents to get involved in appointments with their children in need. Parents get to solve the problem together with therapists via Telehealth as a team as they provide you with practical tips in helping your child. We are here to empower you as an advocate for your little ones confidently.
A Kids-friendly Approach
Your child can receive therapeutic care in their comfort zone via Telehealth. It does not have to be home-based Telehealth sessions of our allied health services. This is because our Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy can be held at their kindergarten or school surrounded by people who help your kid. In addition, therapeutic activities in an environment that children are familiar with ensure their comfort. This leads to more opportunities for improvement alongside practices with their belongings or tools. Also, most children are often virtually stimulated by mobile, tablet, laptop or desktop screens. Telehealth consultation for children allows them to enjoy the use of technology and online interaction.
Participants’ Thoughts on Accessing NDIS with Telehealth?
While Telehealth may not be suitable for all NDIS-related circumstances, it possesses strong evidence in bringing as effective as face-to-face sessions.
A survey led by Professor Kim Bennell from The University of Melbourne with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) found that 31-33% among 2391 NDIS participants were likely to choose to use Telehealth even post-pandemic. This shows that Telehealth technology can go above and beyond whatever it offers amid the pandemic.
The report regarding NDIS participants’ Telehealth experiences with NDIS in the course of Covid-19 highlights that:
- 2 out of 3 NDIS participants felt their recent experience alongside Telehealth was better or similar to their previous face-to-face sessions.
- 45% of NDIS participants would likely decide on a plan review via phone or video in the future.
- Most NDIS participants found the Telehealth technology user-friendly.
- Most NDIS participants felt comfortable and safe, knowing that the care they received from allied healthcare experts during the virtual consultations was effective.
Adapting to Telehealth
Without a doubt, changing approaches when it comes to receiving NDIS services and support is overwhelming at times for some people. In addition, some NDIS participants have specific concerns about the tech, the security, and more. Worry not, Posity is here to clear your doubts regarding your access to NDIS with Telehealth.
Can I Access Telehealth if I’m not Good with Technology?
Yes. We will help you learn all the essential know-how in accessing NDIS with Telehealth with the technology you have. Should you face any technical issues regarding connections, audio or visual, don’t hesitate to inquire about us or any healthcare expert with you at the moment.
Should I be Worried about the Quality of NDIS Service?
Rest assured that our professional yet friendly team of Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapists are trained and qualified to provide services via Telehealth according to the given guidelines. Therefore, the quality of services you receive virtually will be the same as you attend the appointments in the flesh.
Is My Child too Young to Receive Care via Telehealth?
For parents who are unsure whether Occupational Therapy or Speech Therapy sessions via Telehealth work for their children, communication is key in everything. Parents can communicate with the therapists beforehand on what to expect during their children’s first Telehealth session of Occupational Therapy. In addition, parents can reassure their children that they will support them throughout the sessions.
Moreover, our Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapists are skilful in utilizing digital technologies to conduct virtual therapy sessions. Sometimes our young NDIS participants need the motivation to attend the online session or need guidance in finding the camera lens. What’s more, our friendly therapists interact with children in a fun way and sometimes involve kids-friendly online tools that capture their attention. Here are a few tips for parents to try in achieving smooth-sailing Telehealth appointments.
Parents with Children Who are 3 to 8 Years Old
Our proficient therapists understand that children do not feel like communicating with them at times. Well, there are actually a few pieces of advice from us for parents to look into that will help their children’s sessions go well.
- Guide your child about the camera’s position, or get them into the right position that is visible for the therapist.
- Allow them to hold their favourite toy during the session.
- Hide the self-view feature of the virtual meeting platform if the child is distracted by looking at themself.
Parents with Children Who are 9 to 15 Years Old
It is usual for older children or teenagers to talk about what they have in mind at times as well. So here are some tips for parents to help things go well for them before and after each session.
- Before the session – Motivate your older child to speak their heart out, allowing them to feel in control throughout the virtual meet with the therapist.
- After the session – Encourage your older child to ask questions if they have any.
In addition, let your children attend some or all of their therapeutic sessions on their own if it feels right for them. This is because it is best to respect their privacy if they need it at the moment.
Is it Safe & Secure?
Posity upholds the highest respect towards your privacy. We ensure that the virtual meeting platform we choose is secure. In addition, you should attend the virtual meeting in a private room if you want to share the matters that you wish to keep confidential from others but not your preferred therapist. Here are a few questions to ask your NDIS service provider when it comes to privacy and confidentiality.
- What are the most secure telehealth platforms available?
- What will be done with my given information?
- Are the virtual sessions recorded or saved for future purposes? If so, who has the authority to access these clips?
- Are there any other people joining my sessions throughout the appointment?
What if I Don’t Own Any Telecommunication Technologies?
NDIS may provide funds via your NDIS plan, allowing you to get your hands on a device to access NDIS via Telehealth. However, supporting documentation is required upon this request, and Posity is keen to help you with that.
Can I Access Both In-person & Virtual NDIS Services?
Yes. You can receive NDIS services and care support in multiple ways as long as it brings you convenience. The combination may include:
- In-person or face-to-face only
- Telehealth only via virtual meeting platform
- A mix of both above
Telehealth Today & the Future
Today, Telehealth goes beyond the pandemic. It helps our NDIS participants in Melbourne to access our allied health services to this day. Besides minimising exposure to illnesses, Telehealth brings peace of mind among NDIS service providers as well. This is because we understand this virtual consultation supports people with disabilities tremendously.
Posity sees eye to eye with Telehealth as we strive to make a difference in the accessibility of health-related support. It is time to move forward with Telehealth, and its convenience has brought us the reason to utilize it more. We are passionate about exploring more new technologies to enhance Telehealth’s accessibility for the highest level of equity among people with disabilities.
The Future Lies in Patient-centric & AI-driven Approaches
Telehealth has changed how people access NDIS and other health-related services since day 1. Therefore, it is vital for healthcare institutions or service providers to review the past and grasp the future of Telehealth. Within Australia’s national eHealth strategy, both AI and cloud support healthcare services’ remote experiences.
For instance, technology such as AI-powered speech recognition allows healthcare experts to put patients their number one priority. Doctors, therapists and other professionals in any field can take notes simply by speaking. It saves time and brings freedom for them to focus more of their attention on their patients. In addition, healthcare professionals can keep eye contact with patients instead of on the keyboard while typing. This ensures a deeper human connection even through a virtual meet platform.
How do I Get Started with Telehealth Today?
Your wellbeing, convenience and safety matter to us the most. We are grateful for the emergence of Telehealth in Australia that enriches our mission of putting your needs first. The widespread application of Telehealth in NDIS is mainly due to its potential to transform the delivery of NDIS services and support. Our NDIS participants are able to access flexible and equitable care no matter where they are.
At Posity, We conduct our NDIS services of Occupational Therapy or Speech Therapy with video conferencing tools. NDIS participants get to choose between virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and Coviu. Our Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist will send invitation links to your active email that leads to your preferred platform. Receive care with peace of mind, knowing that our friendly therapists will support you along your transition journey into Telehealth. For those who prefer to receive care over the phone, feel free to let us know. Our therapists will talk to you via our secure healthcare system phone call named Halaxy.
It is time to realize the potential of Telehealth with Posity. So please send us a message here or give us a call at 0449 612 283.
