Digital health thrives through crisis

COVID-19 has had devastating health and economic impacts in Australia and across the globe. However, the ability of our governments and health systems to innovate their service delivery has been remarkable.

COVID-19 created a situation where face-to-face contact had to be minimised. The system had to innovate and adapt, as did the healthcare profession and the patients it served. In mid-March, in response to COVID-19, the Australian Government increased Medicare-funded telehealth services, including telephone and video consultations. This was the critical systemic change required to enable the benefits of telehealth to be realised.