The Victorian Government has announced it will expand the state’s Virtual Hospital pilot to allow treatment of up to 400 patients by the end of June.
Acting Premier Ben Carroll and Minister Mary-Anne Thomas today announced the Victorian Virtual Hospital pilot will expand.
Led by Austin Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the expansion means more Victorians can receive care and recover at home, while freeing up hospital beds for patients who need them most, said Acting Premier, Ben Carroll.
“The Virtual Hospital pilot is saving Victorians time and money – providing safe, world class care at home,” he said.
“We’re freeing up hospital beds for those who need them most.”
Since December, more than 260 patients have been treated via the virtual pilot – saving the equivalent of more than 1,000 hospital bed days to date.
Initially aiming to treat more than 250 patients, it will now support up to 400 patients by the end of June, the Government said in a statement.
Services delivered via the pilot include:
- Virtual wards – focused on heart failure and post-cardiac surgery patients
- Regional support services – virtual ward rounds and secondary consultations in partnership with regional and rural hospitals
- Virtual foetal medicine – delivered by Royal Women’s Hospital to give women in the regions access to timely specialist assessment.
Patients receive daily care including check-ins, 24-hour support and at-home visits when or if needed.
Virtual wards and support services have been treating patients in Wangaratta, Seymour, Albury, Wodonga and Colac – with an expansion to Shepparton and Echuca in coming weeks.
“The Virtual Hospital is already proving a gamechanger for regional Victorians,” said Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas.
“We’re making sure people get the care they need at home, and closer to home, reducing the need for travel.”
