title: Integrating telehealth services into a remote allied health service: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The continuity of care for people with neurological conditions in a remote northwest Queensland town as services are currently only available intermittently.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed methods design using questionnaires and staff review of the program and processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intermittent community rehabilitation service for clients with neurological conditions has been offered in Mount Isa and is supported by a similar fulltime service in Townsville. Both services use a unique client-centred, student-assisted, interprofessional model of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Understanding participant experiences by obtaining feedback from clients, students and allied health professionals (AHPs) regarding their experiences of using telehealth in this setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previous clients of the North West Community Rehabilitation service were offered a review assessment using telehealth by an interprofessional team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using telehealth enabled the client, remote AHP and students in Mount Isa to be connected to expert assistance in Townsville.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that telehealth was useful in a community rehabilitation setting to provide review services for clients. This improved continuity of care for these clients because without this telehealth assessment, the clients would have had to wait up to 12 months for the next service period in Mount Isa or travel to a major urban centre to access a similar service. Feedback from clients, students and AHPs was positive; however, some challenges were identified. Recommendations for future service delivery using telehealth are outlined in the paper.
authors.affiliation: Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.affiliation: Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011793:Queensland; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: clinical education; community rehabilitation; telehealth