Renowned surgeon Professor Fiona Wood says replacing outpatient appointments with ‘FaceTime’ consultations could help reduce the hours clinicians spend travelling to see patients.
Speaking at a Committee of Economic Development of Australia’s health care funding conference in Perth on Wednesday, Professor Wood claimed clinicians were wasting hours stuck in traffic congestion on Perth’s freeways while driving to outpatient clinics.
She flagged FaceTime as a possible solution, which would be similar to TeleHealth telephone consultations already conducted between doctors and patients in rural areas to avoid long travel times.
Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Gannon said the demand for outpatient appointments was stretching WA’s health system, but he was cautious in his support for the technological shift.
The AMA WA president said an in-person visit would always be preferred over tele-conference style appointments like FaceTime.
“Embracing new technology is a positive thing,” he said.
“As for whether it’s better or equivalent to an in-person appointment, I think there’s so much more you can achieve in a face-to-face consult.
“I’m strong believer in the additional non-verbal information and benefits that can be achieved by sitting in a room with someone.”
Dr Gannon said while tele-conference style appointments may be a suitable compromise for some rural patients, an in-person visit to an out-clinic would always be the preferred option.
“I think what we’re often talking about in these situations is second best… not to say we shouldn’t be imaginative in the ways we look forward in an environment where health dollars are so precious.
“Human touch is a key part of a consultation.
“To listen to the chest or to feel the abdomen, we would never seek to replace the humanity of an individual doctor to patient interaction.”
Fiona Stanley Hospital and Professor Wood have been contacted for comment.