{"id":325573,"date":"2022-10-28T19:41:26","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T09:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=325573"},"modified":"2022-10-28T19:41:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T09:41:26","slug":"virtual-emergency-dept-opens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/10\/28\/virtual-emergency-dept-opens\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Emergency Dept Opens"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A screenshot of the Virtual Emergency Department webpage entry … it can be accessed at https:\/\/healthserviceportal.health.qld.gov.au\/ved<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 28, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

Residents across Queensland can now call a Virtual Emergency Department run by Queensland Health in Brisbane instead of heading to the nearest hospital.<\/p>\n

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the initiative, set up by Metro North Health during the height of the COVID emergency, had been expanded to cover all the State.<\/p>\n

Patients needing urgent non-life-threatening care can receive emergency treatment via telehealth at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is already making a difference in Brisbane\u2019s northside and we want to replicate that success around Queensland,\u201d Ms D\u2019Ath said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not only relieving demand on our busy emergency departments but it\u2019s providing a streamlined and comfortable service to patients in their own home, by allowing people to access expert clinical advice remotely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other benefit? It limits the number of people with contagious illnesses like COVID from presenting at hospitals, protecting our hard-working and indispensable health professionals from exposure.”<\/p>\n

The service is run by senior Emergency Department staff who are experienced in triaging and diagnosing a multitude of emergency conditions. They are available to treat, refer and prescribe medication accordingly for the patients.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Virtual Emergency Department service comes under the umbrella of the Connected Community Pathways initiative, a $67.5 million commitment by the State Government to improve clinical care.<\/p>\n

Metro North Health ED Consultant Dr Kim Hansen said the extension of the service would benefit both patients and the health system alike.<\/p>\n

“We see patients of all ages, from zero to 100 and beyond, and can diagnose their condition as well as prescribe and organise any medications or other treatment they may need,\u201d Dr Hansen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommon problems that we see and manage include COVID-19, common respiratory illness, children with fevers, gastroenteritis, minor injuries, vertigo, high blood pressure and back pain \u2013 anything you\u2019d go to the Emergency Department for that can be assessed over a video call.<\/p>\n

“We are open seven days a week, including weekday evenings until 10:00pm, where patients will be seen first by an experienced emergency nurse, and then by a senior emergency doctor.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Queensland GPs and QAS staff can access the service to provide real-time emergency medicine assessment and support.<\/p>\n

Since April 2020, the service has averaged 526 referrals a week.<\/p>\n