The healthcare industry has been strained to the breaking point as healthcare workers try to keep up with the growing demands of patients. Even before the pandemic, patients were experiencing long wait times to receive care or missing out altogether. COVID-19 simply made a bad situation worse.

Combatting Australia's Growing Chronic Disease Problem 

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), half the Australian population lives with one chronic disease, and one in five have two or more and 63.4% of adults and 24% of children are considered overweight or obese.

A report released by Research Australia, ahead of World Obesity Day earlier this year, highlighted the social and economic costs of this issue. It revealed that Australia ranks among the top five countries in the OECD with the highest proportion of overweight or obese adults.

"Almost 10% of the total burden of disease in Australia is due to overweight and obesity," said Nadia Levin, Research Australia CEO. "It is the leading risk factor contributing to some pretty serious health outcomes."

Additionally, treating obesity-related diseases is estimated to cost an average of just under 10% of a country's total healthcare spending. However, the broader health impacts are even more concerning, particularly the increasing trend of overweight and obese children.

These numbers are continually increasing, putting immense pressure on the healthcare industry to keep up with demand and Ms. Levin stressed the importance of targeted assistance from primary healthcare providers to support patients facing these challenges. The good news is that most chronic and sub-acute care needs can be safely delivered at home or online, offering patients a more comfortable and cost-effective alternative to in-patient care.  

Delivering care in the community frees up hospitals and GP clinics to attend to patients in need of urgent or complex care. Deploying telehealth, remote patient monitoring and out-of-hospital care strategies are not only more practical and cost-effective for providers and patients alike, they can also save the healthcare system around $14B each year, according to analysis from the Australian Medical Association.  

Disrupting Healthcare with the Power of Digital Technology 

Digital healthcare technology offers a solution to the issue of people ending up in the emergency department due to ineffective management of their chronic conditions. By utilising wearables, smartphone apps, robotics, AI, and digital health software platforms like CareMonitor, nurse-led care can be delivered directly to patients in their own homes. This empowers patients to take control of their health conditions conveniently and efficiently.

Research led by Associate Professor Michael Montalto from Epworth HealthCare, has shown that implementing digital healthcare technology can have significant benefits. The study found that it can reduce hospital admissions by 53% and decrease the length of stay for admitted patients by 76%. This not only improves patient outcomes but also frees up valuable resources for more urgent or complex cases.

By embracing digital healthcare technology, we can revolutionise the way chronic conditions are managed, ensuring patients receive the care they need while reducing strain on the healthcare system.

Leveling the Playing Field with Equity and Access 

No Time to Waste 

Solving our complex healthcare crisis calls for increased government funding, investment, infrastructure, and training. However, the potential benefits far outweigh the challenges and ultimately, the strain on our healthcare system leaves us no choice but to take action.  

Amid escalating demands and mounting pressure, healthcare providers must embrace technology to transform care delivery, alleviate the burden on workers and improve patient outcomes. 

REQUEST A DEMO

Experience the future of care delivery

To experience the power of CareMonitor firsthand and learn how our world-class platform can improve your healthcare delivery outcomes, book a 30-min demo with us today.