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Eldercare leads the way in virtual care for aged care residents
This week, SA Virtual Care Service (SAVCS) rolled out to more than 120 residential care facilities and over 9,500 aged care residents across the state, after a successful trial with 11 initial Eldercare aged care homes.
The SAVCS pathway provides GPs and staff within Residential Care Facilities direct access to senior medical staff where urgent but non-emergency support is required; and the initial pilot with Eldercare resulted in approximately 80 per cent of patients receiving care in place, avoiding the ED and an unnecessary triple-zero call completely.
“The SA Virtual Care Service is an easily accessible healthcare service to avoid hospital transfers for aged care residents.” Said Eldercare Acacia Court Site Operations Manager, Samantha Miller
Through the service, residential care staff and GPs can access senior and specialist medical clinicians via video link to consult with the resident, their care team and family to assess, monitor, and determine the most appropriate and safe options for care, including within their home. This pathway brings the expertise of clinical teams, traditionally requiring hospital attendance, to the person’s home.
Residential care teams use an electronic tablet with a direct link to specialist medical, nursing and paramedic clinicians within the SAVCS. When urgent care is required, aged care staff and GPs will simply click a button for immediate access to a consultation with a senior, multi-disciplinary team.
The video below shows Thelma Coard, an Eldercare Acacia Court resident talking to a senior medical staff via SAVCS.
To learn more about SA's Virtual Care Service visit: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au...
“This service is an incredibly efficient way to manage some of the acute events within our residential facilities without needing to transfer residents to hospitals.” Said Samantha Miller.