An app a day keeps work injuries at bay
CANBERRA: A new real-time video platform, developed by CSIRO’s Data61, is helping hundreds of Australians recover quicker from work injuries through virtual appointments.
The app, known as Coviu, is being used across the country and has connected 20,000 Aussies to healthcare practitioners through partnerships with organisations including Health Team Australia, HealthKit and Ramsay Healthcare. Coviu has also been commercialised in China.
Pronounced co-view, the real-time video platform quickly connects patients with health professionals.
The platform is ideal for people in rural and regional Australia who cannot travel for treatment.
Physiotherapy network Biosymm is an early adopter of the platform.
By improving accessibility to professional physiotherapists, Biosymm’s early intervention treatments have reduced claim numbers by half compared to the same period the year prior.
Biosymm has conducted more than 1400 consultations on Coviu since implementing the platform.
The company works with major retail, industrial, mining, rail and pharmaceutical clients, many of whom operate in isolated areas across Australia.
In the past 12 months Coviu has grown its base of paying users by 470 per cent.
Last month, it was named a winner at SingularityU Summit’s pitch fest.
Biosymm CEO Greg Borman said good injury management came down to having access to expert advice at the right time.
“The majority of work injuries are musculoskeletal in nature, and by using Coviu to connect patients with our physiotherapy team, we can triage them on the spot and provide the right advice at the right time, wherever they’re based,” Borman said.
“The real-time video feature also allows us to guide employers at the end of the consult on what the worker can safely perform at work during their recovery and how best to prevent a recurrence or aggravation.
“We’ve been able to deliver significant returns in workers compensation savings and productivity by ensuring employees receive the timely expert treatment and guidance they need to make a full and swift recovery.” — CSIRO News