Health services are no exception, though this change is for the better.
Technology continues to make huge strides in uncharted territory, unlocking greater access to care for countless people, especially those living in regional areas such as Shepparton.
Geelong-based cardiologist specialist Dr Ryan Spencer spoke about the changes he had witnessed in his more than 10 years of practice in the medical field.
Dr Spencer’s connection to Shepparton stretches beyond a “soft spot” he developed when holidaying in Kyabram as a child.
He treats patients from Greater Shepparton all the way from Geelong.
“I have one patient with an implanted device, which we monitor remotely. This means the patient only has to travel for a consultation infrequently,” he said.
Telehealth (medical appointments delivered through video calls or over the phone) allows specialists to treat more patients than ever before.
Patients can contact their urban-based specialists from their homes or with their local GP.
This means less travel, less cost and ultimately more space in hospitals, as consultation rooms are freed up for other purposes.
Implanted and portable monitoring devices such as pacemakers collect data, which is then sent to the specialist.
This data is useful in identifying patterns that could prelude serious health conditions. It is easy to access, detailed and constantly collected, allowing earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
“Especially with rhythm problems. As our population gets older, we become better at treating things like random heart attacks,” Dr Spencer said.
“Therefore, we are seeing fewer heart attacks but more and more rhythm problems.
“Atrial fibrillation, for example, can be silent, have no symptoms, and can be very difficult to detect. However, it can cause strokes if not detected.
“Tech has moved into that space, allowing us to identify problems early thanks to portable or implanted devices alerting users to these problems.
“It was very difficult previously sometimes to work out what was going on. Patients would have to travel to get those devices checked every six months at urban-based specialist centres.
“Now, those devices can be remotely interrogated and checked, and patients can be reassured – without leaving their home – that there are no problems.”
This technology does not have to be implanted; everyday technology, such as smartwatches, can also be helpful.
“Even five years ago, Telehealth with no add-on technology was still good, but now being able to incorporate this technology into Telehealth means that the Telehealth service has the potential to become as good as a face-to-face appointment,” he said.
“It might never be as good, but there’s more technology always on the way, and it’s always getting better and better.
“For people that do have smartwatches or technology that alerts you to the fact that they have heart rhythm problems, check up on (any alerts) with your GP.
“These devices aren’t always right and are known for sometimes being wrong, so it’s not a reason to worry if you get an alert.
“But it is a chance to get that checked by your local GP. If they are detected, they’re much better known about and treated than not known about.”
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