the location of federallyfunded multipurpose facilities can help supplement services in communities but may also instigate disinvestment by state governments in hospitals or appropriate transfer arrangements this medical outreach is expensive but has become a vital part of health service delivery in australia s most remote parts such schemes work best when a visiting specialist pairs with a local gp to manage a patient s care there is a need to maintain investments in technologies to help overcome geographical challenges to care telehealth is a very promising innovation in australia and internationally using technology to link patients or gps in rural areas to specialists in regional centres or major cities