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The Australian Financial Review, Friday, June 26, 1998
The Sydney call centre of High Performance Healthcare(HPH) is a
call centre with a difference.
Manning the telephones 24 hours a day are 60 qualified nurses of
all disciplines, social workers, dietitians, medical librarians
and even psychologists, all at the leading edge of health information
and counselling, disease management and care co-ordination.
HPH is part of a telemedicine sector worth $36 million this year,
according to a new report prepared by John Mitchell & Associates
for the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism (DIST). The
report expects the sector to turn over $54 million this year, with
estimates of its size in a decade’s time ranging up to $4 billion,
or 10 per cent of health expenditure.
The recently updated report identified some 250 telemedicine projects
across Australia, which reflects our early adoption of technologies
such as video-conferencing and our excellent medical base.
But like other fast-moving technologies, there are already signs
that fragmentation, a lack of maturation in the industry, and a
lack of national vision to match our ambitions for industries such
as information technology may soon squander any leadership role
we have.
Australia lacks professional and industry associations, journals,
research bodies and technology shows - the crucial building blocks
of industry along with government commitment to integrate telemedicine
with the health system.
"Substantial obstacles still need to be overcome before the
industry takes off in a dynamic, enduring manner," consultant
John Mitchell concludes.
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Innovation in Teaching and Learning