VRGS heads south
Western New South Wales’ Virtual Rural Generalist Service (VRGS) has been extended to Southern NSW.
The service provides 24-hour virtual medical support, specialized or critical care advice and transport, logistics and coordination support. It ensures patients have medical cover with a VRGS doctor who can answer their questions and discuss their condition, supported by on-site nursing staff.
According to a media statement, South NSW Local Health District will pilot the service from July at five initial locations in Bombala, Braidwood, Crookwell, Delegate and Yass.
VVED to double the capacity
Australia’s first virtual emergency room, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), will also be expanded.
From providing free emergency care via video consultations to around 500 Victorians per day, the VVED now aims to accommodate more than 1,000 individuals per day, based on a press release. The Victorian Government will provide more than $235 million in funding so it can recruit more doctors.
“We are doubling virtual emergency department capacity so more Victorians can get the urgent care they need from the comfort of their own home – taking the pressure off our busy emergency departments,” Premier Jacinta Allan explained.
By expanding the VVED, it can also support more direct referrals from aged care, paramedics, primary care networks, the Nurse on Call service and self-referrals from the community.
The VVED, delivered by Northern Hospital, has helped over 256,000 patients, 86% of whom avoided unnecessary trips to hospitalsince its statewide rollout in 2022.
Antenatal clinic in Canberra is digitizing the patient journey with Personify Care
Canberra Antenatal Care from privately held Ken Tan Obstetric Care in the Australian Capital Territory is the latest company to digitize its antenatal patient journey with Personify Care.
Through the digital route, expectant parents have access to educational material and information; they can also complete required assessments and consent prior to their appointment.
Personify Care also recently enabled the delivery of digital prenatal education and care Feed babythe only online provider accredited by the Childbirth and Parenting Educators of Australia and the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards.
In 2022, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network in South Australia developed the Pregnancy Online Platform with Personify Care, which also digitized the antenatal care workflow.