The Telehealth Centre at the PA Hospital is close to being opened. Staff at the PACE/PAH Health Sciences Libraries had a visit from Associate Professor Anthony Smith, Centre for Online Health in April this year. He gave us a presentation on the Online Health Centre which is now located in a third of the existing PA Hospital Library space.

The Centre for Online Health is a joint venture between the PA Hospital and the UQ Centre for Online Health - Richard Ashby has been quoted as saying it is to be the "best in the world".

Paediatric telemedicine has been operating for the last 10 years at the Royal Childrens Hospital - more than 15,000 consultations have occurred.

The new adult service based at PA Hospital will offer telehealth in five clinical groups - Endocrinology/Diabetes, Dermatology, Geriatrics and Psychiatry.

There is now Medicare funding for telehealth consultations which will drive the uptake of the service. A Melbourne GP has created a free website designed to connect doctors via Skype - it is available at consultonline.com.au