Open Hospitals in Queensland
Tracking Wait Times and Patient Flow
The Queensland government has launched an online portal for tracking wait times and patients in line for treatments at emergency departments in near real-time. The Open Hospitals portal provides visibility to the performance of 25 major EDs and seven satellite hospitals in the state, updated every 15-30 minutes.
Minister’s Comment
"Queenslanders now have the critical information they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare options," commented Minister for Ambulance and Health Services Tim Nicholls.
Rural GPs’ Perspective
The portal also supports rural GPs in referring patients to hospital EDs, added Dr Danielle Allan, president of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland.
Victoria Launches Virtual Women’s Health Clinic
Filling Gaps in Women’s Health Care
The Government of Victoria announced that it is setting up a free virtual women’s health clinic to plug gaps in accessing care for women in regional and remote communities. The clinic will provide various telehealth or online services, including endometriosis and pelvic pain care, menstrual health, cervical screening, menopause care, breast health care, and abortion.
Virtual Clinic Details
The virtual clinic will be led by specialist nurses and run in partnership with community health organisation EACH. It is slated for launch in the middle of the year and is part of projects under the state government’s A$153 million ($96 million) women’s health package.
Western Australia Awards $3M for Digital Health Projects
Funding for Digital Health Research
Nearly A$5 million (around $3 million) in government funding was recently awarded to various digital health research projects in Western Australia. Eight of the 14 projects were led by researchers from the University of Western Australia (UWA), cornering around A$3 million ($1.8 million) in funding.
Research Projects
The grants are under the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund, which has distributed A$215 million to more than 600 recipients since 2020.
Conclusion
These initiatives showcase the efforts of governments in Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia to improve healthcare services and fill gaps in access to care. The Open Hospitals portal provides transparency on wait times and patient flow, while the virtual women’s health clinic addresses gaps in women’s health care. The digital health research projects in Western Australia aim to develop innovative solutions for various health challenges.
FAQs
Q: What is the Open Hospitals portal?
A: The Open Hospitals portal is an online platform that provides real-time information on wait times and patient flow for emergency departments in Queensland.
Q: What services will the virtual women’s health clinic offer?
A: The virtual women’s health clinic will offer various telehealth or online services, including endometriosis and pelvic pain care, menstrual health, cervical screening, menopause care, breast health care, and abortion.
Q: How much funding was awarded to digital health research projects in Western Australia?
A: Nearly A$5 million (around $3 million) in government funding was awarded to various digital health research projects in Western Australia.
