Northern Health’s virtual emergency department, VVED, has won two 2022 Australian Business Awards – for digital transformation and service excellence.
The Australian-first VVED enables patients with non-life-threatening emergencies to connect to specially trained nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors from anywhere at any time.
The awards recognise organisations that demonstrate business innovation, product innovation, technological achievement and employee engagement.
VVED director Dr Loren Sher said it was ‘an absolute privilege’ to lead the work of the department.
“At Northern Health, we are constantly looking for ways to provide accessible and gold standard care to our community. The virtual ED team are thrilled to be recognised for this work,” she said.
Northern Health chief operating officer Debra Bourne said the VVED had gone ‘from strength to strength’.
“The VVED is a great example of how we work together to come up with innovative ways to protect and care for our community,” she said.
Northern Health launched the VVED in October 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea was developed to address an increased number of patients presenting to the Northern Health emergency department, as well as concerns that patients were presenting late due to fears of contracting COVID-19.
The VVED was initially available to patients in Northern Health’s catchment area, and in late 2021 the hospital partnered with Ambulance Victoria to allow paramedics to connect to the VVED from patients’ homes, reducing the number of patients transferred to hospital.
The VVED has since expanded state-wide, with all Victorians able to access emergency care around the clock from their homes. The VVED has also expanded to GPs and rural health services.
In most cases, patients can be managed at home.
Prescriptions can be delivered to patients’ homes and arrangements can be made for ongoing care.
About 40 per cent of patients who present to the VVED are referred through pathways and linked to rapid review clinics, ‘Hospital in the Home’ programs or other services.
To connect to the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, people can visit vved.org.au.
