NSW Extends Virtual Health Service to Adults
Over a year since offering urgent virtual care service to children and youth statewide, the New South Wales government has come up with a similar service for adults.
New VirtualAdult Service
The new VirtualAdult service will provide urgent care via video conferencing for common illnesses or injuries, such as coughs and colds or flu, respiratory symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea, and rashes.
Statewide Expansion
Following its launch this month, December, in Sydney, it is planned for statewide expansion by the end of 2025. The service is part of several initiatives introduced to relieve pressure on overwhelmed emergency departments across NSW.
Digital Pharmacy Ordering Now Live in Victoria
Compounding pharmacy Slade Health, part of cancer care provider Icon Group, has digitised its ordering system for public hospitals in Victoria.
Automation of Information Flow
It recently integrated the digital medications management system, Charm Evolution by Magentus, with its in-house software, to automate information flow.
Benefits of the Digital System
In a media release, Slade Health says public health facilities and hospitals can now order through this digital system, doing away with manual entry. The system also provides the pharmacy with near real-time visibility into orders, updates, and cancellations.
Full Digitization
This integration makes Victoria the second state in Australia after Queensland to fully digitise ordering for hospital pharmacies.
Royal Melbourne Hospital Beefing Up Digital Transformation
Royal Melbourne Hospital has sought support from digital health accelerator ANDHealth for its digital transformation.
Innovation Partner
It made the organisation its “innovation partner,” helping keep updated and providing expert advice on new and emerging technologies.
Core Hospital System Partner
The hospital has also become ANDHealth’s first core hospital system partner, providing insights into clinician and staff demand and needs from technology.
Conclusion
The NSW government’s extension of virtual health services to adults, the digitization of pharmacy ordering in Victoria, and Royal Melbourne Hospital’s digital transformation efforts demonstrate the growing importance of digital healthcare in Australia.
FAQs
Q: What is the VirtualAdult service?
A: The VirtualAdult service is a new urgent care service via video conferencing for common illnesses or injuries, such as coughs and colds or flu, respiratory symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea, and rashes.
Q: When will the VirtualAdult service be available statewide?
A: The service is planned for statewide expansion by the end of 2025.
Q: What is the digital medications management system used by Slade Health?
A: The digital medications management system used by Slade Health is Charm Evolution by Magentus.
Q: What are the benefits of the digital system used by Slade Health?
A: The digital system provides public health facilities and hospitals with the ability to order through a digital system, doing away with manual entry, and provides the pharmacy with near real-time visibility into orders, updates, and cancellations.
