digital technology and farmer health

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Digital technology and farmer health

Susan Brumby

14 June 2018


• A partnership: Deakin University School of Medicine

and Western District Health Service

• Improvement of health, wellbeing and safety of:

• Farmers, agricultural workers and farm families across

Australia

• Our Mission: to make a difference to farmers lives

National Centre for Farmer Health

Jennifer Fawkes, VIC – Watching the canola grow

Tom Keegan, VIC – Up to dateTom Keegan, VIC – Cooling off in a drought


1. shorter lives

2. higher levels of disease and injury

3. poorer access

4. less use of health services

5. higher rates of daily smoking

6. higher alcohol intake

7. higher rates of overweight and obesity

8. lower levels of exercise

9. higher rates of suicide.

Australians living in rural and remote:

Source: AIHW, Web report, May 2017


Total deaths (age-standardised rate) by remoteness, 2015



Flow on effect of poor farmer health

Continuing the conversation: Collaboration


• Accidents

• Farm acquired illnesses (Zoonoses)

• Skin complaints

• Musculoskeletal disorders

• Chemical/pesticide exposures

• Medical emergencies

• Hearing loss

Health issues of agricultural populations

• Depression and suicide

• Stress and anxiety

• Domestic violence

• Drug and alcohol abuse

• Respiratory diseases

• Cardiovascular disease

• Cancers - some

• Diabetes

Compounded by reduced access to health services and cultural barriers


Farmers and Ag workers


1. shorter lives

2. higher levels of disease and injury

3. poorer access

4. less use of health services

5. higher rates of daily smoking

6. higher alcohol intake

7. higher rates of overweight and obesity

8. lower levels of exercise

9. higher rates of suicide.

Australians living in rural and remote:



Fitter Farmers?• Exercise interventions largely

urban-centric

• Limited reliable farmer physical activity data

• Comparison of physical activity levels & types over 7 days


• Website

• HONCode

• Social Media

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Safety Shop

• Digital Engagement

• Individualised pathways

Digital engagement


Telehealth

Source: Avizia Research Report - closing the telehealth gap 2017


Stroke Telehealth

ACTION

TIME Actual

Time

Real time Target

time met

Comment

Suspected stroke

arrival

STROKE CALL made

0 mins 1515 ✓ Ambulance pre hospital

notification

Door to Rapid triage ≤ 5 mins 0 1546 ✓ Stroke team assembled

in ED

CT staff alerted and

ready

Support allied health

and nursing

coordinating for

immediate admission to

ICU

Door to Physician/Med

Registrar

≤ 10 mins 0 1546 ACTION

Door to Stroke Team ≤ 15 mins 0 1546 ✓

Door to CT scan ≤ 25 mins 1 1546 ✓ Direct transfer to CT

Door to CT

interpretation

≤ 45 mins 18 1604 ✓

Door to Needle ≤ 60 mins 44 1630 ✓ tPA adminstered


Better Health? My Health Record

MyHR

Source: WVPHN 2018


• Lysn connects people seeking help with qualified

Australian mental health professionals.

• Consultations take place by video (similar to Skype).

• Timeframes before and after work to suit each

individual.

• Tele-therapy” method is set to tackle the mental health

and depression rates.

“

Online platforms

Lauren Stewart, NSW - Working away

https://lysnhealth.com.au/


• Health care on demand – telehealth, websites, apps

noise level meters

• Technology on our body – real-time onsite blood

testing, bio sensing

• Technology in our body – Pill Cams

• 3 D parts, genomics, – pelvis, eyes, vertebrae

• Robots

• Healthy designed environs – to keep us well

• Growth area in medical graduates – medical

technology…

Future technology assist with?


The digital farm & the digital farmer

Source: Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions 2017 Source: Oregon Agricultural Progress, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GC0Jme2Fj4&feature=youtu.be


Thank you

03 5551 8533

[email protected]

www.farmerhealth.org.au

@FarmerHealth

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