Browsing by Author "Isles, Alan"
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- ItemA comparison of telepaediatric activity at two regional hospitals in Queensland.(2003-03-28) Smith, Anthony C; Williams, Michael; Van Der Westhuyzen, Jasper; McCrossin, Robert; Isles, Alan; Wootton, RichardWe conducted a 15 month feasibility study of telepaediatrics A novel service was offered to two hospitals in Queensland Mackay and Hervey Bay We used data from all other hospitals throughout the state as the control group Although both intervention hospitals were provided with the same service the telepaediatric activity generated and the effect on admissions and outpatient activity were markedly different There was a significant decrease in the number of patient admissions to Brisbane from the Mackay region In addition there was an increase in the number of Mackay patients treated locally as outpatients In contrast little change was observed in Hervey Bay We assessed whether the observed differences between the two hospitals were due to various factors which influenced the use of the telepaediatric service These factors included the method of screening patients before transfer to the tertiary centre and the physical distance between each facility and the tertiary centre We believe that the screening method used for patient referrals was the most important determinant of the use of the telepaediatric service
- ItemThe family costs of attending hospital outpatient appointments via videoconference and in person.(2004-01-19) Smith, Anthony C; Youngberry, Karen; Christie, Fiona; Isles, Alan; McCrossin, Robert; Williams, Michael; Van Der Westhuyzen, Jasper; Wootton, RichardWe compared the costs incurred by families attending outpatient appointments at the Royal Children s Hospital RCH in Brisbane with those incurred by families who had a consultation via videoconference in their regional area In each category 200 families were interviewed The median time spent travelling for videoconferences was 30 min compared with 80 min for face to face appointments Families interviewed in the outpatient department had travelled a median distance of 70 km while those who had a videoconference at the local hospital had travelled only 20 km It cost these families much more to attend an appointment at the RCH than to attend a videoconference Ninety six per cent of families 193 reported at least one of the following types of expense 150 families had expenses related to parking median A 10 dollars 156 had fuel expenses median A 10 dollars and 122 reported costs related to meals purchased at the RCH median A 10 dollars Only 21 families who had their appointment via local videoconference reported any additional costs Specialist appointments via videoconference were a more convenient and cheaper option for families living in regional areas of Queensland than the conventional method of attending outpatient appointments at the specialist hospital in Brisbane
- ItemWireless telemedicine for the delivery of specialist paediatric services to the bedside.(2005-12-26) Smith, Anthony C; Coulthard, Mark; Clark, Ron; Armfield, Nigel; Taylor, Shauna; Goff, Robyn; Mottarelly, Ian; Youngberry, Karen; Isles, Alan; McCrossin, Robert; Wootton, RichardA mobile interactive online health system was used to conduct virtual ward rounds at a regional hospital which had no specialist paediatrician The system was wireless which allowed telepaediatric services to be delivered direct to the bedside Between December 2004 and May 2005 43 virtual ward rounds were coordinated between specialists based in Brisbane and local staff at the Gladstone Hospital Eighty six consultations were provided for 64 patients The most common conditions included asthma 27 chest infections 12 gastroenteritis 10 and urinary tract infections 10 In the majority of cases there were partial 67 or complete changes 11 in the clinical management of patients Specialist services were offered by a team of 13 clinicians at the Royal Children s Hospital 10 general paediatricians two physiotherapists and one registered nurse Feedback from all consultants involved in the service and local staff in Gladstone was extremely positive In 43 videoconference calls there were three technical problems probably due to an intermittent mains power supply at the regional hospital There appears to be potential for other rural and regional hospitals to adopt this model of service delivery