The 14-month medical drought in Stanhope has finally ended, with the groundbreaking launch of Victoria’s first telehealth-focused medical clinic.
The landmark Stanhope Telecare Medical Centre is off to a busy start, with more than 35 appointments conducted in its first few days.
Since the start of 2023, the GPs’ office at the newly minted Stanhope Medical Centre has been empty, leaving residents to travel 20km to Kyabram for check-ups and appointments.
In July, the Kyabram District Health Service announced its partnership with Telecare to create a virtual health clinic.
Two Telecare GPs, Dr Ken-Tze Koh and Dr Raymond Wen, will serve the Stanhope community through a blend of face-to-face and virtual telehealth appointments.
The service began on Monday, August 12, with the doctors meeting residents of Stanhope keen to try out their new health service.
On Tuesday, August 13, the Stanhope community got to meet one of the GPs set to service the area, Dr Koh, in a meet-and-greet style evening that welcomed both the program and the doctors into the community.
More than 30 Stanhope community members gathered in the Stanhope senior citizens’ hall to meet their new point of contact for all things medical.
Over refreshments and light snacks, the evening became a heartwarming community celebration, marking the end of the year-long search for a local GP.
Dr Koh said he had had a great time meeting the residents.
Speaking about the clinic, Dr Koh expressed confidence in the smooth rollout of the system in Stanhope.
He highlighted that the hybrid program offered both easy access to doctors via telehealth and monthly in-person consultations, ensuring comprehensive care for residents.
“You can’t do everything (over online consultation), you still have to examine, and you still have to see them, so that’s why we have those in-person appointments still,” he said.
Dr Koh was also confident the service could provide fast-tracked links to residents for specialised consultations that often take months to book.
“Our advantage is that we can link you in with specialists. If you’re having trouble getting into specialists for months and months, hopefully we can get you priority access to some of these specialists within a week or two,” he said.
As for general appointments, for two days a week, people can book virtual appointments with the GPs, which can be conducted anywhere with a handheld device or desktop computer.
A practice nurse is set to be stationed in-person at Stanhope Health, and will help those who don’t have access, or know how to use, the relevant technology — although the position is yet to be filled.
Telecare operations manager Kathleen Pulanco acknowledged the irreplaceable nature of in-person doctor-patient relationships.
She emphasised that having a practice nurse present during online consultations would be crucial for the program’s success, ensuring a personal touch.
“I do think the only way this can be successful is a patient can’t necessarily be 100 per cent independent — so if we have the option where they can visit the medical centre and have somebody at the medical centre, that’s how it will work,” she said.
“I think the main thing is the GP is fantastic as a proper contact and a face for the community because everybody needs a doctor in the community.
“The GP is the portal to everything else — they need that consistent person to say this is what you need and this is how you will get better — not just, here is your prescription.”
The service was off to a flying start, with 35 appointments in the first two days, plus more bookings already made, according to Dr Koh.
Stanhope resident Bob Holschier had his first appointment with Dr Koh on Tuesday, August 13, and they are already familiar with each other — Mr Holschier cheekily winking to Dr Koh as he walked by.
“We’re very pleased that they’re here,” Mr Holschier said.
For the first three weeks, the rollout will feature in-person appointments with both GPs. This approach allows community members to familiarise themselves with the doctors, who will later provide care primarily through telehealth appointments.
The service is a welcome addition to the town, with locals having previously needed to drive 20 to 30 minutes down the road to visit a GP.
Cutting travel time was one of the main reasons the Stanhope Development Committee cited for getting a new GP into town.
KDHS chief executive Anne McEvoy said it was the urgency of the committee that got the project off the ground.
“They have been instrumental in guiding the — I suppose you would call it — designing the model,” she said.
“They are input into what the community wants. They’ve been asking for a doctor since the last doctor retired — so they’ve held the health service accountable.”
Stanhope Development Committee president Glenda Cowie has spearheaded the campaign for a new GP in the area since the previous GP, Dr Robert Brun, retired in 2023.
“As soon as he [the previous GP] retired, we said we need a doctor, when are we getting a doctor? At every meeting,” Ms Cowie said.
“It’s such a good building as well. But we had this built, and then we lost the doctor, and it was sitting there with hardly anything happening.
“At the moment, it’s looking very promising.”
Reflecting on the impressive early success just two days after opening, Mrs McEvoy expressed KDHS's delight with the community’s enthusiastic response to the new service.
“It’s a brand-new practice in a town that hasn’t had a GP visit here for nearly 14 months, so it shows that there’s a need,” she said.
“It’ll be interesting how a community picks up on (the technology), but I think since COVID that it’s the way of the future. I don’t think all consultations will be face-to-face over time.”
The Stanhope residents will have three weeks of in-person sessions at Stanhope Health before the service reduces face-to-face consultations to two days a month, with telehealth consultations running two days a week.
Appointments for Stanhope Telecare Medical Centre are open now.
To book, contact Telecare on 4800 5291 or email stanhope@telecare.com.au