NSW Ambulance set to expand virtual care services, managing burden on emergency departments
Image: Health Minister, Ryan Park, announced the plan to bolster the VCCC. Image: Ryan Park for Keira/Facebook
By ABHA HAVAL
NSW Ambulance has initiated a recruitment campaign to bolster the potential of the state’s Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC) following its enhancement in efficiently responding to Triple Zero (000) emergency calls in the last 2 years.
The VCCC’s expansion is set to ensure patient care across NSW, irrespective of the location. It is said to relieve some pressure on ambulance services and reducing the burden on hospital emergency departments.
More than 200 people were being responded by the VCCC for the Triple zero (000) calls which does not necessarily require a paramedic response. It was found to be more effective than the emergency department’s services.
Reducing Hospital Demand
The VCCC was established during Covid-19 that now operates around the clock, with clinical experts providing secondary triage and vital medical support.
Health Minister Ryan Park said, “the VCCC was created during the pandemic at a time of unprecedented Triple Zero (000) call volumes and showed it was more than capable to manage this extreme demand and keep patients safe.”
“During the devastating 2022 floods where some people requiring medical attention were isolated by flood water, VCCC clinicians were able to provide ongoing clinical care to these patients virtually while they were waiting to be rescued,” Park continued.
“The VCCC saved more than 12,000 patients from attending the emergency department last year, reducing demand on the hospital system.”
“VCCC clinicians had contact with more than 100,000 Triple Zero (000) callers during this period to provide support for 46,000 patients who didn’t require urgent care by offering secondary health services available within the community,” said Park.
Expanding VCCC team
The NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan has indicated the VCCC’s capability to handle tens of thousands of Triple Zero (000) calls that has now evolved into a 24/7 operation with a need to expand their staff to cater to the increasing demand for clinicians.
“As part of the VCCC expansion NSW Ambulance is seeking experienced registered nurse and/or registered paramedic triage clinicians, clinical nurse consultants, and specialist physicians to join the fast-growing multidisciplinary team,” Dr Morgan said.
“The VCCC started with a small number of specialist clinicians on duty 16 hours a day. Two years on, it’s a 24/7 operation which will have more than 100 staff over the next 3 years,” Dr Morgan continued.
In NSW, a 40 percent surge in ambulance calls underlined the need for the VCCC. Following its success in moving very low-acuity cases to more appropriate care pathways, the service is set to expand again.
