The phrase 'doctor can see you now' has taken on new meaning in a joint project co-ordinated by the University of Queensland.
Queensland Telemedicine Network, based in Brisbane and Townsville, incorporates Queensland Health, rural health training units, divisions of general practice and the University.
The project, which uses a camera and television link-up to relay images from one 'site' to another, is overcoming Queensland's tyranny of distance by giving rural doctors and their patients access to specialist services in the larger cities.
Project manager Craig Kennedy from the University's Psychiatry Department at the Royal Brisbane Hospital said telemedicine was an ideal forum for mental health because provided an effective communication link over distances.
There were already 80 telemedicine sites throughout Queensland including Thursday Island, Mt Isa, Longreach and Charleville, he said.
'The Network itself was established 18 months ago and brought everyone under one umbrella in a co-ordinated way which has improved access to both patients and health professionals,' he said.
'And while mental health has been the backbone of the project, telemedicine is now also being used for the rural education of GPs, dermatology, radiology and ophthalmology.'
Mr Kennedy said a recent grant from the Commonwealth Government would enable a 'test case' to be established for the tele-medicine equipment in Goondiwindi.
'Until now we have had no hard evidence that patients are better off with telemedicine and this grant will allow us to test that,' he said.
'The research will link the town's GPs and local hospital to specialist services in Toowoomba, while another two towns will be chosen as controls.'
Mr Kennedy said a visiting psychiatry service would remain.
'It will depend on what the GP wants and what the consumer wants. No-one will be forced to use the equipment,' he said.
'Some people are fearful of telemedicine because they worry they will lose the opportunity of face-to-face access to their doctors but it is really just another way of improving access.'
He said the basic cost of setting up the equipment, which includes a video camera, monitor and integrated systems digital network lines, was $12,000 to $15,000 per site. Ongoing costs depended on telephone charges.
'In some instances, where extremely high resolution images are needed, it is just not cost effective to use telemedicine at this point in time,' Mr Kennedy said.
The system is also currently restricted to the public health system because it is not covered by Medicare as consultations are not technically 'face-to-face'.
For information contact Craig Kennedy (phone (07) 3365 5464).
