NSW extends virtual health service to adults

Over a year since offering urgent virtual care service to children and youth statewide, the New South Wales government has come up with a similar service for adults. 

The new VirtualAdult service will provide urgent care via video conferencing for common illnesses or injuries, such as coughs and colds or flu, respiratory symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea, and rashes. 

Following its launch this month, December, in Sydney, it is planned for statewide expansion by the end of 2025. The service is part of several initiatives introduced to relieve pressure on overwhelmed emergency departments across NSW. 

Digital pharmacy ordering now live in Victoria

Compounding pharmacy Slade Health, part of cancer care provider Icon Group, has digitised its ordering system for public hospitals in Victoria.

It recently integrated the digital medications management system, Charm Evolution by Magentus, with its in-house software, to automate information flow. 

In a media release, Slade Health says public health facilities and hospitals can now order through this digital system, doing away with manual entry. The system also provides the pharmacy with near real-time visibility into orders, updates, and cancellations. 

This integration makes Victoria the second state in Australia after Queensland to fully digitise ordering for hospital pharmacies. 

Royal Melbourne Hospital beefs up digital transformation

Royal Melbourne Hospital has sought support from digital health accelerator ANDHealth for its digital transformation. 

It made the organisation its "innovation partner," helping keep updated and providing expert advice on new and emerging technologies.

The hospital has also become ANDHealths' first core hospital system partner, providing insights into clinician and staff demand and needs from technology.