ESSA Telehealth Research Project: Expressions of Interest now open!

ESSA is seeking Expressions of Interest to conduct a Telehealth Research project to augment available evidence for advocacy efforts to retain relevant compensable scheme Telehealth Item numbers for exercise physiology services beyond the Federal Government’s 30 September 2020 interim measure cut-off date.

Ms Anita Hobson-Powell, ESSA Chief Executive Officer, said the coronavirus pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for the profession and has been a catalyst for Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) to swiftly adapt to social distancing public orders by continuing quality care online and over the telephone.

“AEPs have responded to COVID-19 with a dynamic shift in how they deliver client care,” Ms Hobson-Powell said.

“Social distancing public orders have challenged the traditional face-to-face service delivery and enabled our profession to pivot to digital delivery like never before.”

As the peak association for Australia’s exercise and sports professionals, ESSA aims to augment the existing evidence of the impact and efficacy of AEP telehealth services as a viable mode of continued service delivery beyond the pandemic.

“ESSA advocates that the continued delivery of AEP telehealth services beyond COVID-19 has capacity to improve and maintain health outcomes and overcome the long-standing issues around access to quality healthcare services, and growing pressure on Australia’s primary healthcare system,” Anita added.

“Adding telehealth services to face-to-face service delivery as appropriate, enables AEPs to continue to improve the health outcomes of both vulnerable populations and those in rural and remote communities in Australia, as well as dispersing pressure from the primary healthcare system.

“Our research project aims to build on the evidence base of the efficacy of AEP telehealth services, as well as to better understand both client and practitioner experience. ESSA Members are invited to submit an EOI by Wednesday, 27 May 2020 and we look forward to further contributing to Australia’s allied health system with formal results next year.”

ESSA is also examining the possibility of participating in a collaborative allied health sector-wide research project on client and practitioner experience using Telehealth.