Coming Soon A Virtual Parent-Teacher Meeting

Almost all of us at some point or other must have been part of a conference call, a webinar, video conference and likewise. And so common have these options today that it is impossible to find someone who doesn’t associate with these virtual meeting options. At the same time, many of us who are parents must have been summoned by the school of our children for a parent-teacher meeting.

Have you ever wondered sitting in those meetings, if there was another way of doing those parent teacher meetings? Probably, do these meeting more discreetly or even virtually?

Improving technology is now available to greatly alter and improve the parent-teacher dynamic. While the thought of a virtual parent teacher meeting may have existed for long enough, technology is now fully evolved to bring this to reality. At the same time, educational institutions are becoming increasingly more savvy in employing technology to improve their services. Deploying phone systems is now a viable option being sought by various educational institutions.

Soon enough we will be inhabiting a world where in the ward’s progress reports are digitally delivered and everyday activities of be uploaded to an online dashboard for the parent’s viewing. Dial-in options using phone systems amongst others are several path breaking measures that we will be able to see in our own times as connectivity improves further; parents become more tech-savvy; and our lives become even more connected.

The government is doing its bit in improving the connectivity. The ball is now firmly in the court of the educational institutions to become more enterprising in the use of technology for their parent-teacher liaisons and overall educational benefits. They can employ a dial-in system to let parent’s access the ward’s attendance or progress reports. Conference calls or via two-way voice messaging platforms, mobile app etc. are all avenues that ought to be sufficiently explored to improve parent-teacher relationship.

The education sector is a critical component preparing a nation for its future growth. What we invest in today’s education will determine the magnitude of a nation’s growth in the years to come. The National Broadband Network is an ambitious and hugely beneficial initiative – the government just has to make sure that all students – irrespective of where they come from accrue equitable benefits such that their current situation is only improved, and not diminished by NBN.

There are great many options and whichever be the one that educators and parents decide upon, the underlying principles however ought to remain the same. Improvements in digital connectivity have to result in an expanded reach of education and educational facilities. And secondly it must bring into the educational-fold, a great many of those who are yet outside.

Technology is play a vital role in shaping our present, but by employing technology in education we definitely improve the tomorrow for our children. 

To conclude, technology can play a great role in improving the parent-teacher dynamic. Digital delivery of progress reports, virtual parent-teacher meetings and digitization of the child’s schooling activity are examples of the improvements that technology can bring to the education experience Several path breaking measures will be seen in our own times as connectivity improves; parents become more tech-savvy; and our lives become even more connected.

Benefits to the Educational Sector with Improving Connectivity

Improvements in educational connectivity imply that each one of the stakeholders – students, teachers, parents, industry and government – are provided with relevant connectivity; and greater numbers are bought into the connectivity fold.

With improving digital connectivity a greater number of students can now be brought into the academic umbrella. Although, in urbanized areas the lack of connectivity may not pose a great challenge but for children in the far flung areas, connectivity or a lack thereof, is a major issue in the delivery of education. Not just students connectivity helps bring together all the stakeholders in the educational ecosystem onto one paradigm. Bringing together institutions, teachers, parents, government and industry onto one platform means that the quality of education improves alongside the expansion of those covered under the educational schemes.

Improvements in connectivity means that children can participate in virtual classrooms and educationalmaterial transferred to them without the physical need for them to be present at a school or institution. For the students, especially those living in the far flung areas of the country, remote classrooms couldn’t here sooner. Such that, they have a greater access to the best lecturers, can participate in online workshops and collaborate with students from different parts of the country and world. 

Currently, most of the rural children have to either depend on radio connectivity or sketchy internet options to be able to have access to quality education and research opportunities. This scenario is fast expected to undergo a massive change with the National Broadband Network. This will enable a paradigm shift in availability of connectivity & broadband access, thereby improving educational pursuits. Connectivity improvements also aid better collaborations between institutions, students and faculty. Thus is it is actively evidenced that connectivity greatly enriches and stimulates the learning environment. The need of hour would be to improve learning environments, offer better exposure for students, and give improved connectivity options to facilitate both.

Various governments across the world are looking to improve the connectivity paradigm. The Australia meanwhile has taking major steps in this direction with continued and consistent efforts towards the National Broadband Network. Education and educational pursuits is one of the key areas of focus for NBN with thousands of students from the remote corners of Australia now expected to be part of the digital landscape.

Educational institutions will be quickly required to move into this space and exploit the ever improving connectivity options. Newer teaching and learning methods will need to be evolved as a greater number of students will be virtual than present in the physical. Connectivity will provide students with a great tool to augment their learning and share their worldview. Students can greatly benefit from improved access, expanded digital libraries and virtual content.

Overall improvements in connectivity stand to greatly enhance learning opportunities and environment. Students not only learn better, but it helps to have improved connectivity with parents and other stakeholders. Improved connectivity within and outside educational institutions stands to expand learning horizons.

Impact of Communication Technology on Healthcare Systems

Explosion of technology and the information revolution has greatly impacted our healthcare system for the better. Not just at the level of treating diseases, but the fact that a greater number of people are now inside the healthcare network is a testament to the improved and increasing presence of technology.

In the not so distant past, people still had to physically be available for consulting a doctor but information technology and communication has now made remote patient consulting and tele-medicine common place. The barriers of time & distance are increasingly shrinking in our times and this means that more & more patients can have access to quality healthcare.

Communication technologies are also greatly improving patient experiences; besides improving hospital response times. Response time is critical for emergencies, someone in distress is least likely to be willing (or be happy) if he or she is made to wait endlessly. The role of technology is not just limited to reducing response times but also towards improving overall patient-care experience.

Some of the ways wherein patient-experiences can be improved with better communications & technology are outlined below:

·         Provide call handlers with complete patient information to help them better response or offer advise

·         Send or receive multimedia files such that it is easy for the patient to send investigative reports etc.

·         Call forwarding or remote calling facilities to enable the same consultant to be available for a patient irrespective of his or her location

The advancements in communications have expanded the horizons of consumer expectations are it is imperative that healthcare providers are able to embrace these technologies to better serve their patients.

Communication advancements provide a great opportunity for healthcare providers to build better services & applications for their patients and prospective audience. There is both a need and opportunity for Australian businesses to grow into. Patients are increasingly connected online and there is a great reservoir of audience that healthcare providers can now look to connect with!

Real-time connect with the patients helps provide preventive services, consultation on prevalent health hazards and nutritional information. As healthcare providers work increasingly on the preventive model of healthcare dispensation it is imperative for them to seek real-time patient information. Patients, on the other hand, need to know that the healthcare provider will be available whenever required and that all emergency situations are well-catered to.

Technology also helps create convenience and comfort resulting in an overall better patient experience. With our worlds more interconnected today than they have been ever before there is a greater convergence of the different spheres of our lives. Being able to access medical information on the go, set up doctor appointments, order medicines and consult with doctors remotely are all various facets of the ever increasing patient demands – which healthcare providers can now cater to with advancements in communication technology!

How NBN Can Revolutionize Healthcare in Australia?

Australia stands at the cusp of a communication revolution. By creating the largest and most sophisticated broadband network across the country, Australia will become the hub of economic, technologic and social betterment as the impact of the National Broadband Network takes full shape.

While it is no secret, that just about every aspect of our lives will be impacted by the NBN, it is important to note that several of the social infrastructure capabilities stand to gain the most. Advancements in communications are set to revolutionize the healthcare sector as never before, and Australia, with the advent of the NBN-era will stand at the forefront of these changes.

Healthcare is that part of the social infrastructure, which is vital for the growth of the nation. A healthy populace is a precursor to the advancement & growth of any nation. However, the sector has been often been bogged down by the sheer weight of the populace it needs to cater to. Facilities are often outweighed by the number of people. Or the distance at which the facilities are available are beyond the reach of certain sections of the population.

The NBN will be a much required, shot in the arm for the healthcare providers to improve their services and offer a better patient care experience. NBN in Australia will help create a connect with the patients, improve services, create new platforms of service and expand the existing footprint of service. In other words, the NBN will open up a plethora of new opportunities whilst helping existing providers augment their current services. Some of the key areas wherein NBN is likely to improve services include:

·         Patient Connect:

Patients will now have improved platforms to connect with the healthcare services providers. Robust technologies will now enable patients on the farthest end of the spectrum to come into the mainstream and have better access to healthcare services. Healthcare providers will now be able to remain in touch with the patients and thereby prevent various diseases prior to their occurrence.

·         Patient Experience:

No more long queues and waiting times. Connect with the healthcare provider quickly and find better response. Healthcare service providers can now make their platforms more intuitive and patient-centric to ensure patients have a favourable and pleasant experience. Improved PABX systems can now be commonplace, thereby equipping healthcare providers with auto-dialling, auto-response and auto-forward options – each of these can be great tools of improving patient experiences.

·         Patient Handling:

Cater to your patients armed with more data about them, such that you can provide them with more personalized and accurate advice. Personalized services ensure that your patients not only receive the exact care that they need but have a much more favourable outlook towards your service.

Future of Healthcare in Australia

To state that the future of healthcare lies in the further influx of technology is very much stating the obvious. Over the decades of the twentieth century we have seen a great deal of technological advancements in all spheres of human life and this includes the medical, clinical and communication spheres. These advancements combined have greatly enhanced the levels of healthcare practice & delivery across Australia and of course through the rest of the world.

As we are now firmly into the 21^st century, the pace of technological advancements is only gather further pace while their percolation into the mainstream hasn’t been more faster ever before. The opening of the first ever fully-integrated digital hospital in Queensland, Australia provides the proof of this, if such a thing was actually required.

Based on the past history and the present scenario, the future of the Australian Healthcare system therefore can be summarized in three parts as seen below:

- Going further & father

Healthcare providers now have the technology to reach the furthest populace. Various options such as - remote patient consulting and telemedicine facilities – have revolutionized the ability of delivering healthcare to the farthest ends of the geographical extremities. Patients can now consult with the doctors, despite being miles away from the clinic. With the use of technology hospitals and healthcare providers are now able to go further than they ever have been to reach that section of the populace which may have thus far been outside its net.

Improving communication facilities have allowed patients the option of being in touch with the hospital in multiple ways. Apps, widgets and social media provide for a whole new concept of patient-doctor relationship.

-       Integrated & Unified approach

As the entire Australian landmass stands at the cusp of being integrated into the National Broadband Network, the opportunities that lie ahead for the healthcare sector are innumerable. Patient data can be integrated and made available on a unified platform. Healthcare provides can access this data whenever there is a patient touch-point and offer better medical advice.

An integrated approach also helps reach patients with the right treatment plans, diagnostic measures and preventive measures. This ensures that the overall patient experience never diminishes.

-       Personalized Care

As more & more people are brought into the National Broadband Network, it allows for healthcare service providers to build personalized health solutions based on specific needs. Healthcare service providers can remain in touch with the patients and monitor their health on a periodic basis without the need for the patients to be visiting the clinic. This allows for service providers to prescribe personalized health care solutions which act as preventive procedures against certain diseases.

Advancements in the sphere of communication will unequivocally revolutionize the Australian healthcare sector, as hereto unseen!