For the deployment of a three-site regional satellite service to distant locations, Starlink and the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Queensland have a direct partnership.
The satellite service, according to Adam Carey, programme manager for the RFDS Queensland digital infrastructure, is an expansion of a wide area network and increases coverage for teams delivering healthcare to Queensland’s most remote areas.
Teams frequently need to work offline because many of the sites where RFDS offers GP, nursing, mental health, and dentistry care have no or limited internet or telecommunications connection, according to Carey.
On the roof of the Urandangi Health Clinic, which is serviced by RFDS’s Mount Isa-based crew, the first permanent device was set up in December.
Additionally, the RFDS has deployed a trial in Greenvale and will soon deploy in Yowah.
According to Carey, the satellite system will soon be implemented in RFDS clinic locations all across the state.
Innovation has always been at the core of the Flying Doctor, and having connectivity choices we’ve never had before is really exciting, he said.
“We feel that the experience across our key community locations will help to set the benchmark for connectivity for rural and remote RFDS locations across the country, even though connectivity in southern states is generally much better and easier than in Queensland due to our geographic challenges,” he said.
The Department of Health and North West Hospital and Health Service welcomed the Urandangi connection, according to Helen Murray, CIO for Queensland Health Rural and Remote.
We anticipate this project will improve connection for visiting clinicians, including those from our partners at the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Murray added.
