Patients benefit from ‘virtual’ emergency care

Kimberley patients will now be able to access virtual emergency care, after the rollout of a new Statewide initiative.

Broome Health Campus has become the 75th site to have access to the Emergency Telehealth Service, which aims to give doctors and nurses significantly improved access to specialist medical support in rural and remote hospitals.

Health Minister John Day said the ETS was an example of technology making country life better and safer.

“Local nurses and doctors in Broome now have the opportunity to quickly link to specialist support, with video- conferencing providing a ‘virtual’ emergency department,” he said. “The service is a potentially lifesaving innovation, with a track record of improving medical outcomes in the treatment of seriously injured or unwell patients.”

“The ETS adds another layer of strength to an already strong medical team in Broome.”

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said he was pleased to see another Royalties for Regions milestone.

“The service has grown far and wide since its original implementation in the Wheatbelt,”

Mr Redman said.

“The State Government’s investment in essential services in one region has had a significant flow-on effect for vast areas of the State, which have been able to access a service originally implemented thousands of kilometres away at little extra cost.”

It began as a pilot program at eight Wheatbelt sites in 2012 under the Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI) to 75 sites as far afield as the Kimberley and South-West towns such as Collie.