For people with spinal fractures that require a Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthotic, there is now a District wide development, implementation and evaluation of a telehealth care model. This involves a pre / post design evaluation of the model of care implementation across Hunter New England Local Health District. Surveys assessed staff educational outcomes, clinical data identified patient outcome improvements and cost efficiencies.
As a result 81 patients were managed with average length of stay reduced by five days, 24,324 kms of travel eliminated for patients and families, significant increases in staff knowledge across nine sites (P<0.05), 156 transfers and 405 bed days eliminated, representing $1.2 million in efficiency savings. This model streamlined patient journeys and reduced travel and transfers, enabling rural clinicians to provide specialised care which addressed inequality between rural and metropolitan services.
