Telehealthcare THE LATEST TUNSTALL AND TELEHEALTHCARE INDUSTRY NEWS
EDITION 4
2015
PRODUCT
Next-gen GPS watch released for Christmas
PLUS
day 15: 35 PM
Fri
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• Independent living with Endeavour Foundation • Where to now? Lisa Capamagian debriefs New World Conference • Tunstall travel diaries: Our #TradeMission to China and Taiwan • Are you a healthcare professional? Easy steps for prescribing assistive technology FEATURE STORY
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2015 wrap up: Looking back on a year in connected care and connected health
. . . .. .. ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. . . . . . . . ... ........ ....... ........ ....... ........ ... ... ... .... .... ... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. . .... .... .... ....WELCOME ..... ..... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ...... ... ... ... .... .... .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......... ... ... ... .. .... .... .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. ... ... ... ... .... .... .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... ... ... ... ... .... .... .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ........ ... ... ... ... .... .... .... . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... . . .... .... ........ ........ ......... ......... ......... ......... . ..... fourth ...... .......... .........To . ... ........ ..of ...... .......edition . .......... the . . . . . . . . . . ... the Tunstall Telehealthcare Times . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. ....... ....... ........ ....... ........ .......... .......... ...... .... .... 2015 .... .... ..... for ..... ..... ..... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ... ... ... ... ... .... .... .... .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. . . ... ... ... ... .... ... ... .... .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... As the last edition for the year, we have a great deal to share with you! .... .... .... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......... ... .. ... ... ... .... .... .... .... .... has been a tremendous year for Tunstall. As ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........2015 . . . . . . . . . . .. I..reflect on the last twelve months, I’m pleased to .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... . . say we continue to fulfil our Mission: to deliver ... ... that ... ... ... ... ... .... .... .... ... leading technology and services to meet the ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........world . . . . . ... ... ... ... .... .... .... .... .... .... ...... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .........health care needs of people today and in the . ...... ..... ...... ..... ...... ..... ...... ...... .......... ...and . ... . . . . . . . ... ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ future. .. . ... ........ ....... ........ ....... ........ ....... ........ ........ .......... .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ...... ...... ...... ...... ....... ...... ....... ...... ...... Our ....clients ...... are the centre of our business and we . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ....in .... ensuring the service we offer is the ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........take .....pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . .... ........possible. As we move into 2016, I .service . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........best . . . . . ... . . .. ....to . . . . . . . ..... ..forward . continuing to provide our clients . .. ..... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......look .. . .......... ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. technology that is monitored and innovative .. .. ....... ...... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....with . . .......... .......... ......... . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .supported . 24/7 ... ........ ........ 365 .... days a year by Tunstall’s premier . . . . . . . .. .... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... .......... monitoring . . . . . . . ...... ..... service. .. ...... .... .. .. .. ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . ..... 14-15 where you can read our . to .. ...hard ... ..at .....Tunstall, .....we....also ..... some ....Flip ..... ..but ..... .have ...... fun! ....work .....pages . . . ...... .We . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...up . view....photos . celebrations. .. and .. ...... of our .. 2015 .. ...... .......... .......... .wrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ....We . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . also attended . always events, in meeting new . a number ... .of industry . .. .... delighted .. .. .. where.. we are ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ... .people . . . . . . . . . . from the industry and catching up with existing customers. On pages 10-11 Lisa, Tunstall’s . . . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . Disability Insurance . Corporate examines . key..learnings .. from .. ...... ...... Manager, .. .. the.. National ...... .........Development . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scheme support to the .... ... .... Tunstall’s .... .(NDIS) .... ......... and .... the....future ..... ...New ..... .in ..... .Conference ..... ......of ..... .....role ..... .World ..providing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sector...... ...... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ...... ....... ...... ......... . ... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ........ ....... ....... ....... ....... . of . the ...... ....from .. ..the .... NDIS A key theme ..... October, ..... New ... the concept of ..... Conference, .....end ...... was ......World ...... ..... held .....at ..... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ... . . Endeavour the ‘smart home. insight specially . ’ On . . 4-5 .the . . . .. .. pages ..into building .. Foundation .. provides ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . . . . . . . designed accommodation for those living with disability and discusses how assistive technology . . . . . . . . ..... ......... ......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .... . aids independent ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ... ...... ...living. . . . ...... ..... ...... ..... ...... ..... ...... ...... ..... ...... ...... .......... the . new .. ...... New . We recently celebrated ... .new ..... ...in ...... .......The ...... ....of ...... .offices ....Tauranga, ...... ..Zealand. ...... opening .....our . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . location with larger....office space allows . . with . .. . .. region, .. .. a particular ..us to continue .. our..growth .. in the .. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ... . focus on delivering .clinical services as.. well as . . . our 24/7 . and .remote . . vital..sign monitoring . .. .. .. .. ... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . Matt Cowley, . . welcomed monitoring service. Special guest speaker,. local Tauranga . City Councillor, . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . guests and Tunstall staff to the new premises. . . . . . . .... ......... ........ ......... ........ ......... ........ ......... ......... ........ .......... .......... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... .. their .. thank .... .. .... ..........and .... ........support ..to ..... .......for ..... continued ..... like .Tunstall ..... everyone ..wish . . . . . . . . . . As we close 2015, I would of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ....... ....... ........ ....... ........ ....... ........ ....... ......... . ..happy ..... and ...... a..safe . . . . . . you a Merry Christmas and . .. . ... ... New ... ... . .... .... Year.... See you .... in .2016. .... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ......... ......... .......... ......... .......... ......... .......... ......... ......... .......... .......... .... . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . . . . .. ...... ...... ...... ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..Managing ...... .......... ...Director . .. . ..... ..... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... ......... ........ ......... ........ ......... ......... ......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 2 Telehealthcare Times . . . . . . ...... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. ..
WELCOME...
LYN DAVIES
...
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
#findmewatch Counting down to the release of the Find-Me Tunstall Watch
While the year may be drawing ever closer to its end, and businesses are beginning to wind down operations, we at Tunstall Healthcare have never been more excited as we count down the days to the release of the new Find-Me Tunstall Watch. This next-generation product heralds a new chapter in the constantly evolving era of assistive technology and comes with plenty of additional features to better support the needs of clients. Updated for a more mobile world With an increasing demand for mobility for older clients, as well as people with cognitive or physical disabilities, it was important to create a device that could provide support on the go. “Tunstall’s vision was to have the watch act as an extension beyond the connected home that would allow us to monitor the client in their community,” says Geoff Feakes, Tunstall Group Chief Information Officer. While the Find-Me watch is designed with dementia patients in mind, it can be equally beneficial to mobile clients in general. Its longer lasting battery with magnetic charging means that clients can get out the door faster, and have the peace of mind their watch won’t run out of power half-way through the day.
Feakes. “It’s built to assist and look after the client, but with the carer in mind.” In addition, thanks to the open communication feature, clients can use their watch to speak with one of our care consultants, or alternatively, their carer. Furthermore, the updated watch is waterproof and includes a fall detector, as well as a ‘not worn’ sensor, which knows when a client has taken off their watch. Mr Feakes adds that pre-production units of the watch are currently in their final testing phases, with production units estimated to be available by Christmas. To find out more about Tunstall’s connected care solutions, you can contact us online, or give our friendly team a call on 1800 603 377.
Features The new Find-Me Tunstall Watch functions wherever there is 3G coverage, and will also be compatible with the next generation of mobile network. The distress alert is unobtrusive and effective, allowing Tunstall’s 24-hour monitoring centre to pinpoint a client’s indoor or outdoor location with the use of geo-fencing and real-time tracking. “With the advanced features in the new version, we can really offer a more complex service,” explains Mr View the Find-Me Tunstall Watch solution sheet Life Changing, Life Saving
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Community spotlight
Tunstall partners with Endeavour Foundation The Endeavour Foundation is dedicated to providing the people they support with modern, future-proof living situations and has been working closely with Tunstall Healthcare to implement this objective. In an ever-expanding world of intelligent technology and smart solutions, it is only fitting that the healthcare sector should find a way to incorporate innovative solutions to benefit those in need of support. Dedicated to providing the people they support with modern, future-proof living situations, the Endeavour Foundation has been working closely with Tunstall Healthcare since 2013 to offer a wide range of assistive technology (AT) to enable Australians with a disability to lead safer independent lives.
Keep up with the latest Maria Hoogstrate and Marisa Kovacevic talk about the Endeavour Foundation’s partnership with industry news. AT is changing Tunstall and how implementing the lives of the people they support and the way Follow Tunstall support is provided. on Twitter: About the Endeavour Foundation One of@tunstallhcare Queensland’s oldest charities, the Endeavour Foundation was first established in 1951. Now the organisation provides support to over 3,300 people with disabilities across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Part of the Endeavour Foundation’s offering includes specially-designed accommodation services. To date, over 20 ‘smart homes’ have been fitted out with AT for the people they support in going about their everyday lives knowing that help is always at hand. Building smarter homes The Endeavour Foundation’s self-funded ‘At Home With Choices’ project aims to build modern houses for people with a disability. Each house is fitted with a Tunstall medical alarm, programmed with activity
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Telehealthcare Times
sensors including help buttons, smoke detectors, and door and gate exit sensors. What makes this type of accommodation unique is that no more than four people share each house, allowing for greater individual choice and independence. “Fewer tenants mean that Endeavour Foundation is able to offer a person-centred, quality lifestyle to people with a disability,” says Mrs Hoogstrate. “The homes are built to high standards of accessibility, so they are suitable for people with a wide range of abilities, including physical and intellectual disability.” Working hand-in-hand with Tunstall Tunstall has been there every step of the way of the new construction projects, aiding in a smooth transition for clients and their loved ones. “We have had a local contact who has been involved with the installation and AT set-up at a number of our new houses, which made it easy to begin using it right away,” explains Ms Kovacevic. The Endeavour Foundation found that in comparison with other AT options, Tunstall provided services and products that were both reliable and well-suited to their requirements. “Tunstall are willing to offer alternative design solutions, and are very easy to deal with,” adds Mrs Hoogstrate.
For more information on the Endeavour Foundation and the At Home With Choices program, visit endeavour.com.au.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
“Tunstall are willing to offer alternative design solutions, and are very easy to deal with.” - Mrs Hoogstrate, Endeavour Foundation
Taking advantage of assistive technology
Responding to NDIS funding reforms
Having a system of AT in place also gives added peace of mind, notifying support staff when exterior doors and gates are opened at unusual times, as well as sounding an alarm in case of a gas or water leak.
With the recent changes to funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Mrs Hoogstrate believed that we will see a growth in the use of AT. This is possibly due to the NDIS enabling people to have greater control over how, when and by whom their support is provided.
According to Mrs Hoogstrate, the AT built into the new smart homes has significantly increased the independence of people living there, in particular due to implementation of alert buttons. “We have been able to give people the opportunity to live in contemporary new homes, shared with a smaller number of people,” she says. “The technology provides independence to people, and a safety net during the times when staff are not in the immediate vicinity.”
“We welcome this significant reform, which will ensure people with a disability are at the front and centre of disability support provision nationwide,” says Mrs Hoogstrate. For more information on the Endeavour Foundation and the At Home With Choices program, visit endeavour.com.au and check out the News or One Endeavour magazine. View the full case study
Life Changing, Life Saving
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LATEST NEWS
Travel diaries: Tunstall’s trade missions to China and Tawain With the end of the year just around the corner, we are taking the opportunity to look back on what has been an incredibly busy and exciting past couple of months for the Tunstall Healthcare team. Our New Zealand General Manager and Asia Pacific Business Development Manager, Stephen Murray, travelled to China for the UK-China Elderly Care and Digital Health Mission, while our Managing Director Lyn Davies attended the Medical Electronics and Devices in Taiwan Forum (MEDiT). They both debrief their experience below. MEDiT Forum Held over November 3 and 4 at the Taipei International Convention Center, the MEDiT Forum welcomed representatives from over 100 world-leading medical technology suppliers to discuss current trends in the industry. Ms Davies found the Forum to be very well coordinated, with a range of excellent speakers to address key issues. The focus for the Forum centred on healthcare and ageing in the digital age, with reference to the industry, government and the consumer. “I believe that the key focuses for the Forum were very relevant not only for our business, but also for innovators and manufacturers in Taiwan,” said Ms Davies. “I have come away from the experience more enlightened on the potential of technology to drive quality of life and extension of life.” Looking to the future, Ms Davies adds that Tunstall is eager to explore the potential for further business opportunities in Indonesia, China and Singapore. Stephen’s mission trip to China Tunstall was part of one of the first missions to visit China since the country’s recent signing of a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. The trip was put together by the China6
Telehealthcare Times
Britain Business Council and visited the cities of Hangzhou and Shanghai. With the World Health Organisation predicting that the Chinese population over the age of 80 will reach 120 million by 2050, the Chinese government is currently facing some great challenges surrounding the transition from institutional to community-based care. “They are looking to the UK with the NHS for guidance, but they are also seeking technology solutions that will allow older people to be seen more often, and to monitor them without the person having to physically leave their home to visit a doctor or care facility,” said Mr Murray. Public health insurers were also interested in a technology solution to help slow the flow of people to both public and private hospitals (reducing bed stays) through prevention and regular technology-assisted check ups. “Just 2 per cent of older people in China are in institutional care,” said Mr Murray. “The traditional model of care is family based, and that is starting to change.” Mr Murray added that while we may take community care for granted here in Australia and New Zealand, it’s still a very new concept in China. The mission’s key areas of focus regarding assistive technology were service design, delivery, recruitment and training, and also monitoring. One of the biggest hurdles for creating a new system is undeniably the scale of the population. With the traditional model built on the premise of going to a hospital for care, there simply isn’t the land to build sufficient bricks-and-mortar care providers for future demand, explains Mr Murray. In contrast, technology solutions enable people to continue living where they are, without putting a
LATEST NEWS
massive strain on local infrastructure. “The fact that Tunstall has 250 monitoring centres globally really struck a chord with the people we met,” Mr Murray noted. “There is a real willingness to look at how technology can help.”
However, we shouldn’t expect change overnight, according to Mr Murray. “Everyone we spoke to is saying 3-5 years,” he said.
Tunstall’s role in the Chinese landscape
“I think once they’ve gone through the process of changing the healthcare structure, and the current system of delivery, there will be a good adoption of assistive technology as an enabler for older people.”
Affordability, user-friendliness and also the capability to provide service on a larger scale will be key in finding the best solution to China’s rapidly ageing population.
Mr Murray observed that Shanghai was looking at a further integration of services, starting to look at other ways to address the rapidly growing aged population.
“The Tunstall solution was very well received,” said Mr Murray. “They were impressed with the ease of use, the effectiveness of data collection, and how they could manipulate the data gathered by our ICP triage patient management system to pull trends and graphs to really understand changes happening in a person’s health over time.”
“Tunstall is exploring partnership opportunities, and to be successful, you need a partner on the ground who is established and connected,” Mr Murray said. “We had a lot of decision makers seeking us out, who knew what they were looking for.”
Mr Murray recalled how even older Chinese people came to visit Tunstall, looking for devices they could use in their home or within the greater community that would allow them to age in place.
“The challenge now is to identify the partner and then decide, were we to have a presence in China, how we would structure that.”
View the blog article Life Changing, Life Saving
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INFOGRAPHIC
Prescribing assistive technology made easy with Tunstall
As technology becomes an ever-increasing presence in the lives of many, there is also the chance for it to benefit those in need of additional support. At present, there are an estimated 4 million Australians with a disability, and just 825,000 primary caregivers. This encompasses the one in eight of us acting as a carer in some shape or form, which begs the question, how else can we provide assistance? Supporting our nation’s DVA members In Australia, there are over 250,000 DVA members, a figure comprised of veterans and war widowers alike. A number of these DVA members could benefit from assistive technology to enable them in living a full, independent life, which is why the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) was established. Under the RAP, eligible DVA Gold Card holders (and White Card holders in certain circumstances), can
Sources:
www.cia.gov; www.dva.gov.au; www.carersaustralia.com.au; www.aihw.gov.au
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receive funding for a personal response system, or PRS from Tunstall Healthcare. Other devices covered by the RAP include an iVi fall detector and a PIR movement sensor, as well as the nextgeneration GPS Find-Me Watch, released for Christmas 2015. If you are a registered nurse, occupational therapist, GP or physical therapist, you can refer your clients by filling in a DVA D9199 assessment form online. Once you have completed the form, and your client’s eligibility has been confirmed, Tunstall can provide installation of the equipment, as well as client training. As our Tunstall PRS is connected to our 24/7 monitoring centre, you can rest assured that help will always be close at hand, 365 days a year. You can find out more about prescribing assistive technology for DVA members in our helpful infographic, but you can also contact our friendly team for further information.
VIEW THE INFOGRAPHIC
INFOGRAPHIC
Life Changing, Life Saving
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INDUSTRY CORNER
L is a Ca p a ma gi a n discusses highlights from the
N e w Wo r l d C o n f e r e n c e In a landmark Australian event, the inaugural National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) conference brought together leading figures in the healthcare industry to discuss the future of disability. Tunstall Healthcare’s Corporate Development Manager, Lisa Capamagian, talks about what it was like to be on the ground, and what some of the key takeaways were from this great event. About the conference
Lisa Capamagian
Corporate Development Manager @LCapamagian
Keep up with the latest industry news. Follow Tunstall on Twitter @tunstallhcare
Taking place from October 27-29 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the NDIS New World Conference: Disability in the 21st Century, aimed to provide a platform for exploring the role of assistive technology in supporting the independence of people with disability. The conference focused on bringing together people with disabilities and government organisations, as well as care and technology providers to foster a better understanding and appreciation of the NDIS, as well as exchange new ideas and innovations. The NDIS New World Pitch Competition The much-anticipated NDIS New World Pitch Competition saw three organisations present to a panel of judges, including Tunstall’s own Managing Director, Lyn Davies. “They all had to stand there and do their sales pitch, a little bit like Dragon’s Den,” Lisa recalls. “The judges asked them some tough questions, but they handled it really well.” Three organisations pitched, with AbilityMate taking the top prize. An open source portal, AbilityMate enables people with disabilities to share a particular challenge they have been experiencing. From there, a community of engineers and designers can custom-make a tool to address the problem using 3D printing, for a cost efficient and personalised solution. Runner up, Clickability, allows people to leave reviews for care providers, while HireUp, another accessibility portal, enables clients to locate the care services they need in a specific geographic area, such as shopping, cleaning, meals and bathing.
View the full interview
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Telehealthcare Times
INDUSTRY CORNER
Representing Tunstall Healthcare As a Tunstall representative, Lisa was one of the speakers at the conference, with her fantastic presentation; ‘Bridging the gap with emerging technologies: How to encourage industry take up’. “There are a lot of new technologies out there, and it can be quite overwhelming for community care organisations that are looking to use them as part of their service delivery. I talked about our experience working with community and aged care, where we’ve helped organisations to use assistive technology,” explains Lisa. “We do this by asking them to focus on a need, a risk, or an opportunity for their staff or clients that could help to bring about improved efficiency or cost effectiveness, or that could enable people to do something that they couldn’t before.” This process helps to filter out various technologies, allowing people to focus on those that would be most relevant to their specifications.
“It’s knowing that if a person with a disability needs assistance, they can source the help they need, even if they’re away from home,” says Lisa. “And they can make that choice. How powerful is that?”. Future trends Lisa was pleased with the positive response towards Tunstall’s presence, and noted how, more than just a connected care solution for the home, people were also looking for support for when they are out and about in their daily lives. Other emerging trends encompassed care services on demand, as well as greater flexibility, mobility and choice for the client overall. “It’s knowing that if a person with a disability needs assistance, they can source the help they need, even if they’re away from home,” says Lisa. And they can make that choice. How powerful is that?”.
Tunstall’s NDIS conference booth: William Grant, Susan Battams, Warren Duce, Lisa Capamagian Life Changing, Life Saving
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LATEST NEWS
Tunstall expands services in New Zealand Tunstall Healthcare has recently expanded its New Zealand operation. Now situated in a larger complex in Tauranga New Zealand, the office relocation enables Tunstall to maintain its local 24/7 emergency response service while focussing on growing and expanding telehealth and connected care programs nationally. Tunstall Healthcare Managing Director Lyn Davies saw the relocation as important to the future delivery of telehealth and connected care services. “New Zealand has an ageing population that is continuing to grow. We are also seeing an
increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, similar to other Asia Pacific countries,” said Ms Davies. “Because of this, telehealth and connected care services are becoming increasingly important to the delivery of healthcare services for New Zealanders.” Tunstall celebrated its office relocation at a launch event on Wednesday, 25 November. Local Tauranga City Councillor, Matt Cowley provided a brief welcome address. “We are looking forward to supporting and contributing to the local Tauranga community through building and expanding our services,” said Ms Davies.
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Telehealthcare Times
“The launch provided an opportunity for industry attendees to view a demonstration of our Integrated Care Platform telehealth solutions, including a myclinic vital sign management interview and video conference with our telehealth nurses,” she said. Guests were offered a tour of the new office to experience daily operations of the clinical triage and 24/7 monitoring centre. Stephen Murray, NZ General Manager and Asia Pacific Business Development Manager hosted key industry guests.
TECH TALK
askWarren
#Tunstalltech
Warren, our Telehealthcare Consultant is one of Tunstall’s longest serving employees. He shares his connected care wisdom by providing training and support to our customers and installers.
Q
How do I use my alarm to set a daily medication reminder?
A Tunstall’s medical alarms not only offer a solution for
contacting help 24/7, but can also be used as a prompt for a medication reminder. If your clients sometimes forget to take their medication on time, then Tunstall’s ConnectMe medical alarm can be set up to alert users at certain times of the day via a voice recording. Setting the ConnectMe medical alarm for medication reminders is simple. The alarm can store up to 60 seconds of messages, be it one long message, or six 10 second messages. You will want to consult the ConnectMe installation guide, but in brief, follow these steps:
1. Use a mobile phone to call the home telephone line. 2. Answer the call using the pendant or green button on the alarm.
ce Warren Du ltant o C care nsu Telehealth ealthcare Tunstall H
3. Once answered, press * 1 on your phone. 4. You will then be prompted to key in the PIN (default 1234). 5. The time currently held on the alarm unit’s internal clock will then be confirmed. 6. Firstly, alter the time if incorrect (menu option 3). To set the time, press menu option 3. Type in the hour and then press *. Type in the minute and then press *.
7. To add a reminder, press menu option 1. Type in the hour and then press *. Type in the minute and
then press *. To repeat this reminder once only, press 1. To repeat this reminder daily, press 2. Record the reminder message.
8. To listen to or remove a reminder message, press menu option 2. Each reminder will be replayed followed by options to save or remove the message.
We recommend that a family member, friend or someone your client is familiar with lends their voice for the recording. Questions? Contact us on 1800 603 377.
Have a question for Warren? Email: askwarren@tunstallhealthcare.com.au Life Changing, Life Saving
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A year of expanding horizons As another year draws to a close, the team at Tunstall Healthcare has plenty to celebrate and reflect on. From international trade missions to relocations and product launches, 2015 has certainly been a busy one across the board. This is why we thought we’d take this chance to look back on the year’s highlights with our annual wrap up to acknowledge the accomplishments of our dedicated staff, as well as acknowledge some incredible achievements. The year in summary 2015 has been a year of continued growth for Tunstall, with regards to both our connected care and connected health programs. We’ve observed the changing landscapes here and overseas, and continue to adapt our offering to suit a connected lifestyle for greater flexibility and mobility.
New Zealand Tunstall Staff Stephen Murray (far left) and Adele Sekul (far right) pose for a photo at the HINZ Conference.
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We’ve reinforced a number of our key partnerships and also established new ones that are pivotal in supporting our Mission: to deliver world leading technology and services to meet the health and care needs of people today and into the future. We have also enjoyed a renewed sense of engagement and team bonding inside the company, helping to foster the warm and welcoming staff culture that makes Tunstall such a special place to work. Furthermore, we literally saw a big shift in the company when we relocated our New Zealand office to accommodate our growing Kiwi base. A year of expanding horizons Tunstall’s staff have truly been
on the move this year, lending support to a number of local events and representing the company internationally. We were a gold sponsor at the inaugural NDIS New World Conference. This important and successful event brought together care organisations and people with a disability to discuss the future of disability support in Australia. Tunstall also featured as a gold sponsor at the Connect Expo, where ICT leaders assembled to exchange ideas on emerging and disruptive technologies across a range of industries. New Zealand General Manager, Stephen Murray, established new connections with the public and private aged care and technology
FEATURE ARTICLE
[L - R] Lynn Williams and Susan Battams attend the St Mark’s Anglican Church Seniors Expo in Brisbane, QLD.
sectors at the Health Informatics New Zealand Conference. Stephen also journeyed to South Korea for the Global ICT Business Forum, as well as to China, on one of the first trade missions after the recent signing of the UK-China free trade agreement. A year of partnerships Tunstall was thrilled to partner with an icon in the medical care industry, MedicAlert, earlier this year, to further expand the organisation’s connected care offering. The partnership provides MedicAlert’s customer base a discounted rate for the Tunstall Medical Alarm service. Following the success of Integrated Living’s Staying Strong pilot project, Tunstall was involved in the rollout of telehealth services to 13 different regions in four states. The project focused on providing older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with access to either hub-based or in-home vital signs monitoring. 2015 was a landmark year with regards to our relationship with
the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), as we celebrated the 14th year of our contract together. In addition, the DVA expanded its Rehabilitation Appliances Programme to include funding for three additional assistive technology solutions, including our next generation Find-Me Tunstall Watch. GPs, OTs, RNs and other health professionals play an important role in prescribing assistive technology for DVA members and other clients and we understand how timeconsuming completing and faxing paperwork can be. So, over 2015, Tunstall focussed on developing a new way to refer eligible DVA card holders for a personal response system. Health professionals can now use our online referral form for a quick and easy alternative to prescribing assistive technology. Tunstall also continued its great tradition of forging strong working relationships with retirement villages across Australia, helping them to integrate assistive technology
into their offering. This resulted in some fantastic work with both McLean Care and St Ives Home Care, the latter of which we helped guide through recent changes to the government’s Consumer Directed Care scheme. A year of new beginnings In 2015, we launched an exciting partnership with the National Home Doctor Service, allowing our clients to have access to the biggest network of afterhours home visiting doctors in Australia. This means that Tunstall’s 24-hour monitoring centre care consultants can help to arrange suitable care for nonemergency situations. In addition, the Tunstall myCareTrack app was released this year to provide greater support for community nurses and lone workers. The app, available for Android devices, allows people who work in isolation to check-in with Tunstall, allowing our staff to identify whether a worker may be in need of assistance. (continued on page 16) Life Changing, Life Saving
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2015: A year of expanding horizons cont. This year saw the debut of a series of helpful videos that demonstrated some of the facets of our service, helping to widen our audience and raise awareness of our offering in an engaging, accessible format. Speaking of launches, the team is readying for the highlyanticipated release of the next generation Find-Me Tunstall GPS Watch. Packed with new features such as two-way communication, geo-fencing and fall detection, we believe this small device will have a big impact on the way we deliver our care, as well as helping to provide support for clients in the community.
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A year of staff development Tunstall was delighted to welcome Sharryn Gannon earlier this year as our Health Services Delivery Manager. With her veritable wealth of knowledge and experience, Sharryn has been instrumental in bringing new insight to the team. Another exciting new addition to the Tunstall family was Registered Nurse Adele Sekul, who joined the New Zealand office this year. Adele has settled into her role as part of the Clinical Services team. Internally, our very own Geoff Feakes was appointed
as the Tunstall Group CIO, and Managing Director Lyn Davies received a scholarship to complete the prestigious Foundations of Directorship course with Australian Institute of Company Directors. As you have read, 2015 was a busy and exciting year for everyone at Tunstall. From all of the staff, we thank you for your ongoing support. As we winddown for 2015, we look forward to entering 2016 with even more energy and excitement. Far left: Sarah and Sharryn pose with Ita Buttrose at the Dementia Strategy Summit. Top right: Warren discusses our assistive technology. Bottom right: Tunstall staff dress in their best for the 2015 Melbourne Cup staff lunch.
Happy Holidays During this Christmas period, Tunstall’s monitoring centre will continue to operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week should you or your client need any assistance. We would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and safe and happy New Year. We look forward to speaking with you in 2016! The Tunstall Team
Calendar of events Tunstall is involved in the following events. We invite you to visit us and learn more about our products and services!
March 5
Spinal Life Australia, Assistive Solutions Expo, Brisbane, QLD
15-17 Australian Healthcare Week, Sydney, NSW
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Tunstall Healthcare 1800 603 377 www.tunstallhealthcare.com.au
Tunstall New Zealand 0800 488 678 www.tunstall.co.nz