A new virtual care service has been launched for aged care residents in Northern Sydney.

The Sydney North Health Network recently provided a A$1.1 million ($700,000) funding package to set up the RACF Virtual Care Service, which is powered by Health Teams, a provider of a digital health platform for the aged and home care sector.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Based on a media release, the virtual care service features video consultations with primary care providers and clinicians and remote vital signs monitoring. Funding for this service also supports staff and providers' training on virtual care delivery. 

So far, 60 residential aged care facilities have signed up for the service out of 103 facilities across the region.

WHY IT MATTERS

SNHN's virtual care service is supporting RACF's provision of non-urgent, routine, and scheduled care for residents. It helps reduce travel time as doctors can now just conduct consultations virtually. Its remote health monitoring feature also improves the management of patients' chronic conditions, increases the capability for early intervention, and prevents hospital admissions. 

Moreover, the virtual service empowers families to become more involved with the health and well-being of their loved ones. 

THE LARGER CONTEXT

The launch of the RACF Virtual Care Service in Northern Sydney adheres to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's recommendation to modernise the aged care sector, which had been found to be deeply analogue and well behind other sectors in the use of technology. Last year, the Australian government set aside around $200 million over four years to improve the ICT systems in aged care.

In other related news, Western Sydney recently expanded access to the inTouch urgent care service to aged care residents. This enables them to access health assessments via video conferencing.

ON THE RECORD

"The Australian government’s funding [for] this technology through SNHN will allow RACF residents to obtain improved access to primary healthcare and help family members to experience a greater level of inclusion in their loved one’s health and well-being. We hope this service will transform residents’ experience of the primary health system," commented SNHN CEO Lynelle Hales.