Feros Care taps Vonage for social, telehealth solutions in Oz

Photo courtesy of Feros Care

Aged care and disability support provider Feros Care is provide its clients video telehealth solutions powered by Vonage. 

The Vonage Video API, embedded within Feros Care’s Virtual Social Centre, enables the non-profit organisation to conduct real-time live-streamed events for more than 600 of its members across Australia. 

Running seven days a week, these events cover a wide range of activities beyond healthcare, from exercise classes and talks on healthy living, to games, entertainment and virtual social gatherings and can be experienced on any device.

Ian Bonner, Senior IT Project Manager at Feros Care, said that many of their clients either live in remote areas or are not able to interact socially with others for various reasons.

“The Virtual Social Centre is an inclusive platform that allows our clients to socialise, learn new skills or just catch up with others,” said Bonner. “The Vonage Video API has enabled us to provide a secure and scalable platform that delivers reliable audio/video quality for our clients.”

He said the technology enabled easy integration within their platform and supports a wide range of mobile operating systems and browsers. With Vonage, Feros Care is looking to scale our activities to 2,000 sessions per month.

With about a fifth of Australia’s population expected to be over 65 by 2031, telehealth services — offering elderly and less-mobile patients care at home — is primed for greater adoption.

“Telehealth has also become an important channel for our clients, particularly for seniors who are especially vulnerable to health risks like COVID-19 and who may be reluctant to venture out,” added Bonner. “This valuable resource means our clients can continue to have access to healthcare providers and we can break down their loneliness through fun activities, new skills and by staying connected with like-minded individuals from the comfort of their homes.”

Sunny Rao, Vonage SVP and general manager for the Asia-Pacific region, said it is vital for healthcare and social service providers to be able to deliver a continuous, effective service during the pandemic.

“Adopting telehealth services means that those forced to self-isolate can get help from practitioners and caregivers, without the need to travel — an important step to protecting vulnerable communities and healthcare professionals,” said Rao.