Telehelp to real health

EVAN Amador is one cute product from a trial of virtual medical care that is being expanded across Victoria.

The Creswick baby, who was born in February, received treatment as part of the state government’s virtual hospital pilot.

During her pregnancy, Evan’s mother Shelley had been referred to the Royal Women’s Hospital because of low birth weight for his gestational age.

Shelley, who was working up until her due date, said the treatment meant considerable travel.

“We were travelling back and forward between Creswick and Melbourne, which was pretty much a full day of work, really,” she said.

“By the time you got to Melbourne, got your parking and sort of waited to see the doctor, it was pretty full-on.”

At one point Shelley and her husband considered the need for delivery in Melbourne if they were required to have scans.

 

However, she was referred to the government trial, meaning she could attend Grampians Health and receive her treatment through telehealth.

She said that they had received excellent care in Ballarat, and that the switch to the pilot had been a game changer.

“It just meant coming to the maternity outpatients here in Ballarat and having the specialists do a live scan, so it was absolutely brilliant,” Shelley said.

Evan, she said, was very well.

“He’s almost doubled his weight since he was born, so we’re absolutely thrilled,” she said.

The pilot had delivered specialist foetal medicine services at Ballarat since December last year.

Dale Fraser, chief executive officer of Grampians Health, said they were delighted to be part of the trial.

He said the program, which used conventional video technology, helped support pregnancies with high-end needs.

“What we have is the ability to have real-time scanning done here being read and interpreted and seen in Melbourne,” he said.

 

“A mum might be having an ultrasound, for example.

“The clinician in Melbourne can then direct the placement of the probe or the movement of the mother to ensure that they can get a view that they’re particularly interested in.”

More than 260 Victorians had been treated as part of the trial, which also included virtual wards focused on heart failure and post-cardiac surgery patients. The trial will expand in coming weeks for the treatment of more than 400 patients.

Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the pilot’s growth to other regional centres such as Shepparton showed it was working.

“We know that people are waiting a long time for specialist appointments, especially in rural and regional areas,” she said.

“We want to stop that. We want to free up beds at hospitals.

“Having this virtual option is so fantastic for the regions, because it means that we can have care closer to home.”