A virtual emergency care service is being expanded across New South Wales to keep children out of emergency departments.
NSW Premier Chris Mins has announced that the virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service, currently available in three rural health districts (South East Sydney, West Sydney and Hunter New England LHD), will be rolled out statewide by the end of the year.
Accessible via HealthDirect, the service assesses children via video conferencing with a clinical nurse who can help them with specific needs, such as a trip to the ED, a consultation with a pediatrician, or a visit to the hospital. determine the best care pathway and care provider based on A local general practitioner or urgent care center.
NSW Health, in partnership with Healthdirect, SCHN and Hunter New England Kids Health, has committed over A$4 million ($2.7 million) to set up, staff and operate the pilot of the service.
I have also been participating in the virtualKIDS program since last December. The virtualKIDS program, which has been piloted since December 2021, was set up by the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network to care for children during the pandemic.
why it matters
A virtual emergency care service aims to keep children away from ED and provide treatment closer to home, according to media releases.
“This will allow families to receive care more quickly and avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital. [the] It can also help ease the burden of a busy ED when child care can be managed safely and well at home with the support of a clinician or primary care physician,” said Prime Minister Minns.
By expanding statewide, it is also expected to provide expert pediatric advice to clinicians in local and regional hospitals and paramedics in non-emergency situations.
the bigger trend
During the pandemic, other Australian states have introduced virtual services to reduce hospital admissions while reducing pressure on capacity.
These have recently been expanded to meet the growing demand for care post-pandemic. Northern Health in Victoria, for example, is already expanding access to healthcare. A Victorian virtual emergency department for people living in aged care facilities and COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at home.
Following an initial trial in 2021, SA Health has further rolled out SA Virtual Care Service to more than 120 residential care facilities statewide.
Queensland Hospital and Health Services also created a virtual ED service, originally developed and launched by Metro North Health in 2020, to be accessible to all patients statewide.
