Impact of the Southeast Melbourne Virtual Emergency Department on reducing transfers from residential aged care facilities.

Authors :: Sri-Ganeshan M
Mitra B
Soldatos G
Rosler R
Goldie N
Meek R
Howard M
Bertolucci M
Egerton-Warburton D
Manderson R
Luzuriaga V
McGee F
O'Reilly GM
Cameron PA
Source :: Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA [Emerg Med Australas] 2024 Dec; Vol. 36 (6), pp. 979-982. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 05.
Publication Year :: 2024
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Southeast Melbourne Virtual Emergency Department (SEMVED) on transfers from residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to traditional EDs.<br />Methods: A cohort study of residents requesting transfer to the ED via ambulance within participating health networks' catchments from April to June 2022.<br />Results: Two hundred thirty-eight VED consultations occurred with 79% (188/238) avoiding transfer. This represented an avoidance of 12% (188/1511) of all requests for transfer during operating hours.<br />Conclusions: SEMVED prevented unnecessary transfers and enabled in-facility care. Integration into community outreach programmes could enhance care delivery. Patient safety outcomes were not formally assessed by our methodology.<br /> (© 2024 The Author(s). Emergency Medicine Australasia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.)

Subjects :: Humans
Female
Male
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cohort Studies
Victoria
Patient Transfer statistics & numerical data
Patient Transfer methods
Emergency Service, Hospital organization & administration
Emergency Service, Hospital statistics & numerical data
Homes for the Aged statistics & numerical data

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