Using video consulting technology, community members can log in using any device with a camera and access emergency care from anywhere in Victoria without travelling to a hospital.
Emergency Medicine director Simon Judkins said it can be a first point of call for people unsure about where to source medical care during evening hours or when they are on holiday.
“We understand that people need to get healthcare, but also there are some issues that can be resolved elsewhere,” Dr Judkins said.
“The clinicians are all trained emergency physicians and nursing staff. They can help people work through concerns and make a decision about whether it is something they need to actually come to the ED for or whether there’s another pathway that they can follow to get those healthcare concerns resolved.”
People just need to spend six minutes registering for the service and they will be placed in a virtual waiting room. This means that people can rest at home while they wait to speak to a healthcare provider rather than at a hospital.
Dr Judkins said it’s all about people learning the most effective way to access the healthcare they need.
“Clearly there are things that people will know that they need to come to the ED for. So I would suggest if you’ve fallen out of a tree and the arms bit sideways, that’s not for virtual ED, that’s for us,” he said.
“Sometimes people just need to be examined a bit more closely but I guess if it can save you from driving 50km from somewhere to come to the crowded emergency department, it might be a good thing to look at.”
The VVED recently hit a significant milestone with more than 200,000 patients served since its inception. It has not only provided crucial care to those in need but has also successfully diverted more than 85 per cent of patients from overcrowded hospital emergency rooms.
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