This is advertiser content for Hunter Primary Care.
Accessing quality healthcare is something most people take for granted, but for others it's not so easy.
If you're living with a disability or in a remote or rural community, getting the care you need can be challenging.
But now an innovative new telehealth software system is set to make the process easier, harnessing technology to give people access to the health professionals they need - without leaving home.
The system, being implemented by local organisation Hunter Primary Care, was developed to help healthcare providers deliver services to meet individual healthcare needs.
Hunter Primary Care has been trialling the new software with National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants over the past three months and has already experienced encouraging results.
The system lets participants and their carers log in remotely and have face-to-face contact with staff. It means the Hunter Primary Care team can see and evaluate the progress participants are making and develop programs tailored to the individual.
Claudine Ford, Care Coordination Manager with Hunter Primary Care, said being able to deliver key services to those who may have previously found them difficult to access was a big opportunity.
"Providing quality care to our participants has always been an essential part of our service offering," Ms Ford said.
"Improvements in technology are helping us to not only focus on the individual but to engage with and support them in ways not possible before.
"Socioeconomic and geographic factors can affect a person's ability to attend medical appointments which means the level of care they receive may be diminished, ultimately affecting their overall health and wellbeing".
For Warren*, an NDIS participant in Tenterfield, the service has been life changing, bringing the healthcare providers he needs straight into his home.
He recently used the service to connect online with Hunter Primary Care Exercise Physiologist Ryan Bender who is helping him with exercise programs developed specifically for him.
"Before connecting with Hunter Primary Care I had to travel almost five hours to another provider," Warren said. "Now I can complete the programs from the convenience of my home."
Ms Ford said the competitive nature of the NDIS meant providers need to continually diversify their services to remain cost effective while also allowing participants to get the most value out of their plans.
"From a practitioner and participant point of view, the biggest benefits so far are its convenience and ability to save time," she said.
"We're able to see more participants because we don't have to travel to consultations. It means we can service a wider community of people who previously may have struggled to attend consultations due to limited transport options or mobility."
Tailored digital health resources are also being delivered through the system.
"The resources are available to help individuals understand and manage their health better, and are based on the participants' learning styles and health literacy," said Ms Ford.
"They're easy to access, can be regularly updated and shared with family, carers and other members of their healthcare team."
Ms Ford said Hunter Primary Care hopes the telehealth software may be eventually used by other members of the organisation including dieticians, occupational therapists and psychologists.
* Name has been changed for privacy.
To find out more about Hunter Primary Care and its services head online to its website or call (02) 4925 2259.
This is advertiser content for Hunter Primary Care.