The ABS found that 90.3 per cent of telehealth users would use it again. Photo: Aspen Medical.
In 2020 and the years that followed, Australia completely changed the way innovative, adaptive healthcare was approached and delivered.
But what began as an emergency pandemic response has since evolved into a new kind of virtual care – one with the ability to deliver safe, high-quality services that proactively meet the needs of communities across the country.
This holds especially true in rural and remote areas, where access is an ongoing challenge and vulnerable people are most at risk of slipping through the cracks.
Laura Malceski is director of digital health at Aspen Medical. She says the shift to virtual care might be powered by technology, but ultimately, it’s about providing tools that strengthen the human side of health.
“Telehealth went from being a stopgap measure to something Australians now rely on every day, with good reason,” she says.
“The numbers bear this out. The ABS’s 2024 to 2025 patient experiences survey found that 90.3 per cent of telehealth users would use it again.
“That’s remarkable acceptance for what was essentially a forced experiment during lockdowns.”
Expanded telehealth services became an ongoing part of Medicare in 2022, a change Laura says solidifies virtual care as core infrastructure rather than an emergency stopgap.
“It’s also a key enabler for addressing health equity and easing workforce shortages, because it extends care to communities that need it most,” she says.
“Whether you’re in a capital city or a remote community, everyone deserves timely access to quality healthcare. Seven million Australians live outside of metropolitan areas, and they face significantly poorer health outcomes compared to urban residents.”
Laura says virtual care is a fundamental solution to making healthcare sustainable and accessible for all Australians. Photo: Aspen Medical.
Aspen Medical reports improvements across several critical areas, starting with basic access to primary care.
The organisation is the sole GP service provider at Urapuntja Health Service, which serves about 1000 residents across 16 remote communities northeast of Alice Springs.
“It goes deeper than getting people in front of a GP when they need one,” Laura says.
“We work collaboratively to strengthen governance and drive innovation in virtual care delivery. Our GPs allow nurse-led care teams on the ground to work at the top of their scope with expert oversight.”
Doctors can even carry out full physical examinations remotely, using advanced diagnostic technology from industry leaders at Visionflex.
This is dramatically more cost-effective than flying doctors in and out, but it also allows patients to build relationships with clinicians who know their medical history.
There’s also the cultural angle to consider. Cultural safety and clinical expertise must go hand in hand, especially in First Nations communities. When the model remains community-led with local Indigenous health workers providing hands-on care, patients get the best of both worlds.
“This isn’t about us parachuting in with a generalised solution,” Laura says.
“It’s about asking communities what they need and building the virtual care capability around their priorities. That’s culturally appropriate care and it works.”
At its core, Aspen Medical believes digital health is about equity. Where geographic isolation and GP shortages create dangerous gaps, virtual care delivers the tools and capabilities to close them – and keep them closed.
“The pandemic was a catalyst for a lot of what we’re doing now, but it’s no longer an add-on. It’s embedded across our entire service delivery arm,” Laura says.
“We know the technology works and Australian communities are ready. What’s needed now is government commitment to long-term sustainability, dedicated funding streams for virtual care, and integration into national health workforce strategies.
“With the right policy support, technology and funding, Australia can achieve inclusive, equitable healthcare for all communities. That’s the goal we’re working toward.”
For more information, visit Aspen Medical: Virtual Care.
Original Article published by Morgan Kenyon on Region Canberra.
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