509 - The opportunity to implement safety and quality telehealth standards in Australia

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, host Peter Birch speaks with Lyndon Goddard and Dr Matthew Vickers from Eucalyptus about the evolution of the telehealth landscape in Australia over the past 12 months and the importance of regulatory standards in telehealth. This episode was recorded in the Eucalyptus studio.

Key Takeaways:

• Evolution of Telehealth: The transition from asynchronous to synchronous telehealth models in response to new medical board guidelines has been a significant change, with positive feedback from practitioners and patients.

• Market Dynamics: The past year has seen a surge in telehealth clinics, especially those offering instant medical certificates and medical cannabis consultations. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing in these areas to ensure safety and compliance.

• AI in Telehealth: AI is gradually integrating into telehealth services, particularly clinical decision support and automation within digital health workflows.

• Call for Regulation: There is a strong need for standardised accreditation frameworks specifically tailored for telehealth services in Australia to ensure minimum safety and quality standards are met.

• International Comparisons: The UK’s approach to telehealth regulation, which includes multiple layers of oversight, offers valuable insights for potential frameworks in Australia.

Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.

Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it.

Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers, and more exclusive content. For more information, visittalkinghealthtech.com/thtplus.

Mentioned in this episode:

Use the free Talking HealthTech Glossary for plain-English explanations of digital health terms, acronyms and concepts across the industry: talkinghealthtech.com/glossary.