When Alan Cunningham required a follow up appointment after having a heart attack, the 82-year-old was facing the drive from Scottsdale to either Launceston or Hobart to see a specialist.
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Instead he was able to attend the North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital as an outpatient and undertake his appointment via telehealth.
Between March and June this year there has been a 1200 per cent increase in the delivery of telehealth appointments across the state.
The growth has resulted in 369,000 kilometres of travel saved by patients, 4488 hours of saved travel time for patients and 34 saved intra and interstate flights.
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Health Minister Sarah Courtney said it was a huge achievement for staff who had been able to pull the services together so quickly.
"Telehealth is all about caring for our patients in a way that suits them - saving our patients' time, keeping them safe and improving access to services in our rural and regional areas," she said.
"Community members are able to attend facilities, just like the North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital, and to have their outpatient appointment."
Tasmania's telehealth capabilities were bolstered earlier this year in response to COVID-19, to help reduce the frequency of face-to-face appointments.
The changes allowed for clinical services from the Launceston General Hospital to be delivered to inpatients in the hospital, and for community nurses to undertake clinical reviews for patients in their home.
Ms Courtney said 20 virtual rooms had been expanded to accommodate about 5000 virtual appointments, with the capacity for up to 500 telehealth connections at any one time.
For Mr Cunningham, the benefits were endless.
"It's something locally for me. I am a very old person and for us to be able to get all of this type of medical care locally, is outstanding," he said.
"I think two of those interviews that were held with me... I would have actually had to drive to Launceston or Hobart to get it done.
"But it was done here [Scottsdale]. Now that saves me the stress, the danger of driving, the expense - just about everything.
"I just want to commend the people for that, in providing it."
Mr Cunningham also had nothing but high praise for the staff at the NESMH, who took care of him after his heart attack earlier this year.
"They looked after me like a long-lost brother. It was excellent I felt so well and safe in their hand," he said.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
