17 regional nursing homes across the West Moreton region are now equipped with iPads to connect nursing home residents and staff with specialist doctors at West Moreton Health.
The new iPads were funded through a Rotary District Grant proudly secured by Ipswich City Rotary Club in collaboration with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.
The Grant funded 17 iPads for use in 17 nursing homes across Ipswich, Gatton, Laidley, Boonah, and Esk to give capacity for specialist doctors to perform telehealth consultations with residents and staff.
The project will provide significant benefit for the care of rural residents within the West Moreton region by providing timely care, reduce the travel required by Queensland Ambulance Services, and support Covid-19 requirements for high-risk populations.
Rowarn Luder of Ipswich City Rotary Club, said that he is proud to say that his local Rotary Club were able to secure the District Grant to support the West Moreton community.
“We worked with Ipswich Hospital Foundation and West Moreton Health to identify the needs in our community, especially regionally.
“Rotary is all about doing good in the world. That is what you’d call our motto.
“Our Rotary Club and our Rotary district are doing good in the world by supporting our local community, residents, families and staff in nursing homes with these new devices,” Mr Luder said.
Dr Chris Raymont, President of Ipswich City Rotary Club, said that the work the Rotary Club well and truly goes back to supporting the local community.
“We wanted to provide the residents in our regional areas with the same level of care as they would get living in Brisbane.
“This project will improve health outcomes for so many locals in our community for years to come,” Mr Raymont said.
Melinda Parcell, Executive Director of Community and Rural Services at West Moreton Health, said the iPads allowed specialist geriatric staff to monitor and support the care of patients in the aged care facility.
“iPads enable virtual access to geriatric specialists to support patients in residential aged care and support GPs visiting aged care residents.
“This type of virtual care supports the patients to access care in their place of residence and avoid ambulance transfer to the hospital,” Ms Parcell said.
Ms Parcell said healthcare technology had many benefits for aged care facilities.
“These iPads will also reduce the need for residents to present to hospital emergency departments.
“It also reduces the reliance on ambulance transport, which frees up our emergency services for emergencies.
“There are so many benefits to this technology, and the main one is that residents can be kept safe and well at home for longer,” Ms Parcell said.
James Sturges, Chief Executive Office of Ipswich Hospital Foundation, said the partnership between the Foundation, West Moreton Health and the Rotary Club was just the beginning.
“We have a shared vision of a thriving West Moreton community in which people experience the best possible health and wellbeing.
“This is a great project that will be able to connect so many people right across the regions to new ways of experiencing care that is second to none.
“The Rotary Club wants to good, West Moreton Health wants to good, and the Hospital Foundation wants to do good. It is great that we can all connect to achieve great health outcomes for our community,” Mr Sturges said.
