Paediatric Care: US Must Follow Australia’s Lead to Delivery Clarity
The United States’ fragmented health care system has made it difficult for parents to access paediatric care for their children.
According to a recent survey, more than half of American parents feel that paediatric appointments are not comprehensive enough to help them plan their next steps.
Rather than being thorough with their assessments, paediatricians prefer sticking to unfavourable time constraints, which leaves parents feeling like they haven’t got their money’s worth.
Statistics show almost half of them leave such meetings with fewer answers than they had when they went in, which makes it difficult for them to figure out what to do next.
The survey was conducted by Zarminali Pediatrics, a multispecialist group that aims to use technology to build a more coordinated and family-centred care model for Americans.
Aside from the fragmented system and rushed appointments, the complicated follow-up system in place also makes it difficult for parents to raise healthy children.
America has all the resources to build one of the best healthcare systems in the world, but it needs a better structure and could learn plenty by following Australia’s lead.
Parents Want Clarity, Not Complexity
While the US has the tools to sort out its healthcare system, it is struggling to build a coherent framework that resonates with the people it wishes to serve.
Rather than pandering to the convenience of the institutions, they need to restructure the system to favour parents and their day-to-day realities. If American leaders are searching for a model, they only need to look towards Australia.
They have spent the past decade building a national telehealth environment that is practical, inclusive and integrated into the wider healthcare system. It is not perfect, but it is miles ahead in terms of clarity, digital consistency and parent-centred design.
Telehealth became more popular in the US during the pandemic, but it hasn’t been whipped into a system that favours parents in the long term.
Like other branches of the healthcare system, it remains fragmented, limiting coordination between paediatricians, specialists and mental health providers.
Meanwhile, Australia has taken steps to make sure its digital care pathway operates under a single system that supports families with automated screening tools.
The tools help parents to bring virtual children’s services directly into homes, even in remote areas. If the US plans to take the next step, it has to tear more than a few pages from Australia’s playbook.
Australia’s Digital Approach is Centred Around Families Rather Than Facilities
Australia has made sure to create a digital healthcare system that is available to everyone in the country, and telehealth plays a huge role in that initiative.
The system creates a bridge that connects physical and virtual care, and one example that has made a big difference in Australia is the iCOPE digital mental health screening platform.
The platform was rolled out by Melbourne-based not-for-profit Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), which is considered the peak body for perinatal mental health in Australia.
It was recently upgraded across nearly 100 maternity hospitals and child-family services, offering early and repeated screening for mental health concerns among parents.
The iCOPE system was previously limited to birthing partners, asking certain questions to help the programme deliver better care.
However, the upgraded system has opened the door to fathers and non-birthing partners and also extends its coverage to other conditions, such as complex trauma and ADHD. It also gives parents practical advice immediately after screening and provides results in 32 languages.
Another key example of Australia’s parent-friendly telehealth evolution is the rise of trusted online platforms such as Qoctor.
The digital healthcare provider has become a household name with Australian families. This impartial Qoctor review highlights how parents value their speed and transparency.
Qoctor makes virtual care affordable for Australians and gives them a platform to have a quick online consultation, renew a prescription or receive medical advice without waiting for an appointment.
Building a Unified System in the US
The US has a lot to learn, but establishing a parent-centred telehealth framework is not as difficult as it may seem. The foundations are already in place, but the US has struggled to assemble the pieces.
The ideal place to start is to create a centralised system, which would result in every state in the US work towards a similar goal.
Building a unified system that allows doctors and parents to access paediatric and perinatal health records through a secure login would be a game-changer for the industry.
When clinicians in different places have access to the same patient records and information, parents would no longer have to act as the go-between.
America also needs to take early screening seriously. Many new parents struggle with mental health issues, but it flies under the radar because screening is inconsistent and sometimes rushed.
If the US follows the blueprint from iCOPE, it may finally take perinatal mental health seriously.
