HOBART

When the COVID-19 pandemic meant that a series of independent medical assessments scheduled in Tasmania were at risk of cancellation, mlcoa moved quickly to deliver the same service via an alternate method in partnership with workplace rehabilitation provider IPAR.

Five in-person medical assessments, each with a physical examination, were scheduled with Neurosurgeon Dr Ashish Jonathan who was due to fly into Tasmania. But when COVID-19 restrictions saw last minute changes to Dr Jonathan’s flights, mlcoa’s Tasmania General Manager Jane Yarham needed to move quickly to source an alternative delivery method with the same robust outcome.

Not only would this mean consideration of the technology requirements. In liaison with the customers, Dr Jonathan and her team, Ms Yarham also triaged each case to ensure the best and safest assessment method was adopted for each person. Ultimately, with the approval of the customers, Dr Jonathan and the clients being assessed, Ms Yarham arranged for the medical assessments to proceed via secure video conferencing, with an allied health professional from IPAR undertaking the physical examination in person under the guidance of Dr Jonathan.

The appointments were hosted in the mlcoa consultation rooms, with the client’s history completed by Dr Jonathan, via video conference. The allied health professional was then asked to enter the room to complete the physical component under Dr Jonathan’s instruction. This enabled Dr Jonathan to complete his assessment without the need to be there in person or arrange a follow up appointment at a late date.

All five telehealth assessments were completed on this day, meeting the deadline required. The technology and allied health partnership utilised to undertake these physical telehealth assessments in Tasmania is available across mlcoa, connecting people locally, regionally and internationally with medical advice anywhere, anytime.