In 2013 Telstra Health announced it was going to be the gorilla in the health IT sector, including the aged care sector. By 2017, after investing $200 million in 18 acquisitions, but little enthusiasm from customers, it was forced to pull back from the market.
Now, three years later and with COVID, Mary Foley – the ex-National Head Practice Leader for PwC and ex-lead of St Vincent’s and Mater Health Sydney – in the Telstra Health leadership role, they have found their niche.
They were ideally placed for telehealth and they have led the introduction of remote electronic scripts. At the beginning of May, FRED IT, a joint venture partner of Telstra Health, successfully delivered the first paperless script transaction between a GP and a pharmacy.
Telstra Health is also working with large public hospitals and emergency departments to support patients in their own homes with remote monitoring of pulse and oxygen saturation readings.
New aged care software assists in identifying and care of high-risk COVID-19 patients or patients who have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
This time round however Telstra is making less of a grandstand of their intentions.
