TY - JOUR
T1 - Digital health to support primary care provision during a global pandemic
AU - Sturgiss, Elizabeth
AU - Desborough, Jane
AU - Hall Dykgraaf, Sally
AU - Matenge, Sethunya
AU - Dut, Garang
AU - Davis, Stephanie
AU - De Toca, Lucas
AU - Kelly, Paul
AU - Kidd, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s).
PY - 2022/3/18
Y1 - 2022/3/18
N2 - The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia has seen the implementation of digital health technologies to support continuity of high-quality primary care provision. Digital health innovation has been used to operationalise the nation's pandemic preparedness principles by reducing risk of infection to both healthcare workers and at-risk patients, sustaining care for chronic and acute health conditions, and supporting the mental health of the population. In this perspective piece, we document the Australian Federal government's digital health response to ensure the ongoing delivery of high-quality primary care. This includes the implementation of telehealth, point-of-care testing, electronic records and e-prescriptions, national primary care data collection and analysis, and digital communication. Digital health has been a critical element of the pandemic response and paves the way for future primary care provision during disasters and emergencies. Further research is needed to capture the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of these innovations for both patients and primary care practitioners.
AB - The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia has seen the implementation of digital health technologies to support continuity of high-quality primary care provision. Digital health innovation has been used to operationalise the nation's pandemic preparedness principles by reducing risk of infection to both healthcare workers and at-risk patients, sustaining care for chronic and acute health conditions, and supporting the mental health of the population. In this perspective piece, we document the Australian Federal government's digital health response to ensure the ongoing delivery of high-quality primary care. This includes the implementation of telehealth, point-of-care testing, electronic records and e-prescriptions, national primary care data collection and analysis, and digital communication. Digital health has been a critical element of the pandemic response and paves the way for future primary care provision during disasters and emergencies. Further research is needed to capture the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of these innovations for both patients and primary care practitioners.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127489214&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/AH21263
DO - 10.1071/AH21263
M3 - Article
C2 - 35301983
AN - SCOPUS:85127489214
SN - 0156-5788
VL - 46
SP - 269
EP - 272
JO - Australian Health Review
JF - Australian Health Review
IS - 3
ER -