Hannah Hammoud
Northern Health’s Victorian Virtual Emergency Department has marked 100,000 virtual presentations since its launch in October 2020.
Housed at Northern Health Hospital in Epping, the VVED is a public health service which triages and treats patients virtually for non-life-threatening emergencies.
The virtual service is the first of its kind in Australia that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The VVED first opened in 2020 to help patients in the north with COVID-19 symptoms, relieve pressure on emergency waiting rooms, and treat more people from the comfort of their home.
The program is now open to all patients across Victoria.
VVED nurse unit manager Hayley Grey said since the beginning, the VVED has been committed to providing convenient, fast, and safe emergency care to patients across Victoria.
“Thanks to this innovative technology, patients can access emergency medical care from the comfort of their own homes, without having to endure the physical and emotional stress of traveling to the hospital,” she said.
“The VVED has been instrumental in reducing both pressure on emergency departments across the state, and wait times for urgent medical care.”
VVED acting director Suzie Miller said looking ahead, the VVED will continue to play a critical role in the delivery of emergency medical care.
“We’re proud to use this milestone to recognise the contributions of the VVED physicians, nurses, and staff, who have worked tirelessly to provide exceptional care to patients across the state,” Ms Miller said.
“This is a testament to their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of all Victorians.
“As virtual medicine continues to evolve and expand, the VVED will remain at the forefront of this exciting and transformative industry.”
