Swinburne and Coviu ready medical professionals for remote healthcare delivery
- Written by Media Release
Swinburne has partnered with Coviu, a telehealth software platform, to further embed digital health technology in the classroom, clinic and research.
The partnership will engage students, and the wider community, in using the latest telehealth technology, equipping them to treat Australians remotely and redefine models of healthcare.
Coviu, a company which specialises in online health consultations, will provide access to cutting-edge technology for Swinburne students, researchers and clinical services.
Swinburne students will learn how to break down the distance and barriers between healthcare professionals and patients.
“Having our students prepared for a workforce where healthcare is increasingly delivered remotely, is imperative and something that is at the core of digital health’s future in Australia. We need graduates that are comfortable using this technology and Swinburne will produce them,” says Dr Mark Merolli, Academic Director of Digital Health & Informatics.
“Health and digital technology go hand in hand, and this partnership reflects Swinburne’s commitment to being a leader in digital health and our passion for innovation in all aspects of teaching, training and research.”
Reaching remote communities
The distance between healthcare providers and those they serve can require enormous amounts of effort, time, and money to overcome. Coviu aims to knock down this barrier by making video visits the new standard of care, says Dr Silvia Pfeiffer, CEO and co-founder of Coviu.
“Our goal is to bring fairer access to healthcare for all citizens, regardless of their location, and this partnership takes us one step closer.”
“Research has shown that up to 80% of clinician visits can be provided online with comparable clinical outcomes. We’ve worked hard to make our telehealth technology simple to use by patients and providers, however it’s absolutely essential that the next generation of medical professionals are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to make online consultations as effective as possible. Our partnership with Swinburne will ensure that this process takes place.
“Beyond geographical constraints, there’s often a stigma attached to seeking support for certain health services; for example, mental health. However, for many people, this disappears when they can do it from the comfort and privacy of their own home. This makes telehealth a fantastic - and under-utilised - solution for those seeking aid, regardless of location," concluded Dr Pfeiffer.
Swinburne’s health future
Swinburne will embed Coviu technology into the curriculum of nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, dietetics, health science, and digital health and informatics.
These are taught through Swinburne’s new Health Precinct, which utilises the latest in technology and facilities.
The technology will also be implemented into Swinburne’s new Master of Physiotherapy, and Graduate Certificate in Teleaudiology, set to launch from mid-2019.
About Coviu
Coviu is an emerging startup out of CSIRO’s Data61, offering a video consultation software to healthcare businesses. It brings the specific workflows and tools necessary for healthcare into an online video call while satisfying regulatory requirements around security and privacy.
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