Albury Wodonga Health’s chief executive hopes a new Telehealth partnership will take pressure off the Border’s emergency departments.
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Leigh McJames said Tallangatta and Corryong health services would now be able to triage after-hours with AWH doctors.
“We have over 1000 patients from Towong Shire come through the emergency department,” he said.
“If a percentage of those can be seen in their own community and not have to travel to Wodonga, it’s obviously reducing the numbers that come through our ED.
“The choice still remains with the patient – they can come straight through the ED and if it’s serious, we encourage them to do that.
“If they’re not sure but feel they need to see someone, they have the option of going to Tallangatta or Corryong.”
Residents presenting to urgent care centres in either town who are deemed suitable for Telehealth support can be seen via video by a medical officer at AWH.
Tallangatta Health Service chief executive Denise Parry said the partnership was a “natural alignment”.
“The data shows us some people are travelling into emergency for conditions that could have been managed easily by a GP,” she said.
“Generally it’s around a bad cough or those sorts of things.
“Those coming to us who can be ordered medication over the phone and not require any more treatment can be managed in their local community and go home.”
Director of nursing Lisa Allen said Telehealth would fill a gap on weekends and after-hours, when a GP wasn’t on site.
“We have an ageing community, so people can’t necessarily travel – they’re the ones that tend to wait until Monday,” she said.
“While some things can wait, others can’t.”
North East Health Wangaratta has provided Telehealth services to Upper Murray Health and Community Services since 2013, assessing about 100 people a month.
Mrs Allen said AWH would now be taking over for Corryong and Tallangatta.
“We did have an initial arrangement with North East Health but it’s much better for it to be done though AWH as we would normally refer our patients there,” Mrs Allen said.
“Anybody who needs emergency treatment would be transferred directly there.
“The staff are very excited to have this support and we do see Telehealth has a potential in a lot of things.”
