At Uralba Hostel Residential Aged Care Home in Gundagai, residents didn’t need to leave the home to receive care. It came quietly into their rooms, on a screen that could be wheeled right to the bedside.
On a morning in mid‑May, five residents each took part in a speech therapy consultation via telehealth. Each consultation was supported by staff and delivered at the bedside, allowing residents to stay where they were most comfortable, in familiar surroundings.
Behind the scenes, that smooth day depended on careful preparation. In rural settings, telehealth can sometimes feel complicated or unreliable without the right support, particularly when staff are still building familiarity and confidence with the technology.
Earlier that week, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) Digital Health Project Officer Shivaram Ravulwar visited the home to work alongside staff and prepare for the consultations. The visit focused on hands‑on training, covering how to set up and move the equipment, adjust sound and vision, manage cables, create consultations, and support residents throughout the process.
“The goal is to make telehealth feel like a normal part of care, not something stressful or unfamiliar,” Shivaram said. “When staff are confident using the technology, the focus shifts away from the equipment and onto the conversation, allowing the consultation to feel as close as possible to a face‑to‑face appointment.”
The purpose‑designed, MPHN‑funded telehealth equipment can be moved easily into residents’ rooms, allowing consultations to take place at the point of care rather than in shared spaces. Staying in a familiar environment reduces disruption and anxiety, particularly for residents with mobility or cognitive challenges. In‑room consultations also support privacy and confidentiality.
Uralba Manager Katie White said the training and support helped staff feel confident ahead of the consultation day.
“Having Shiv take the time to walk us through everything made a big difference,” Katie said. “The equipment is easy to move and set up, and that means our residents can have their appointments comfortably in their own rooms, without the stress of being moved around.”
Supporting five separate consultations in one day showed how preparation and workflow alignment can make telehealth part of everyday care rather than an added task. This visit also reflects broader work by MPHN to support digital health maturity across primary and aged care settings, particularly where telehealth is already part of day‑to‑day care.
Families also benefit, even when they are not present on the day. Knowing that consultations are conducted privately, without unnecessary hospital transfers, provides reassurance. In some cases, telehealth can also enable remote family involvement, strengthening shared decision‑making.
“It’s about using digital health in a way that fits the place and the people,” Shivaram said. “Our focus is on supporting care in ways that make sense for residents and staff.”
At Uralba Hostel in Gundagai, telehealth didn’t replace human connection. It supported it, quietly, practically, and right at the bedside.
CAPTION: Registered Nurse Ashleigh Berry and Uralba Manager Katie White with MPHN Digital Health Project Officer Shivaram Ravulwar alongside the mobile telehealth equipment used for in‑room speech therapy consultations at Uralba Hostel in Gundagai.
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