Victorians will soon be able to receive remote, specialist hospital care in their own home with the launch of the state’s first ever Virtual Hospital Pilot.
Premier, Jacinta Allan and Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, today announced The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Austin Health will lead the pilot.
“The Virtual Hospital Pilot is a game changer for regional Victorians, because patients recover better when they’re in the comfort of their own home with their family,” the Premier said.
The six-month pilot will begin in December, delivering care for more than 250 patients who would otherwise be admitted as an inpatient to a hospital ward.
“This pilot is going to make it easier for patients to get the care they need, and expanding the digital coordination centre at RMH is going to get our paramedics back on the road faster,” said Minister Thomas.
“We’re giving people get the care they need, freeing up beds and getting our paramedics back on the road sooner.”
The pilot will treat patients from right across the state with regional Victorians to benefit most from virtual ward rounds, where doctors will monitor and check in with patients remotely – partnering with regional and rural health services to provide patients specialist care without needing to travel.
As part of the pilot, the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Digital Coordination Centre will be expanded to use real-time data to direct ambulances to hospitals. This change will see paramedics directed to hospitals which aren’t as busy, the Government confirmed in a statement.
Following the pilot’s completion in June 2026, an evaluation will be completed, it stated.
