October 2021 edition
One example of virtual care is the NSW Telestroke Service. The Service provides 24/7 access to life‑saving stroke diagnosis and treatment, connecting patients and local doctors with specialist stroke physicians via video consultation.
Virtual care, also known as telehealth, safely connects patients across the state with healthcare providers to provide care when and where it is needed. Virtual care supports value based healthcare by ensuring that healthcare resources are used optimally, consistently and equitably to deliver the outcomes that matter to patients and the community.
Stroke is a time critical medical emergency that can kill up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute.
The service enables rapid assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients in regional and rural areas, helping to improve health outcomes and experiences.
“Using Telestroke, clinicians harness cutting‑edge technology to deliver better outcomes for patients exhibiting signs of stroke,” said Professor Ken Butcher, Medical Director of the NSW Telestroke Service and Director, Clinical Neuroscience at Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital.
“Multi-modal imaging allows clinicians to see where the stroke is in the brain and make better clinical decisions – irrespective of a patient’s location.” Professor Ken Butcher
“Multi-modal imaging allows clinicians to see where the stroke is in the brain and make better clinical decisions – irrespective of a patient’s location.”
The $21.7 million NSW Telestroke Service is jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments and will expand to up to 23 regional and rural sites across NSW by June 2022.
The Service is underpinned by a monitoring and evaluation plan to measure and assess the impact of Telestroke within the context of overall stroke care. Monitoring and evaluation will examine the impact of the Service on patient outcomes, patient and clinician experiences, and system sustainability.
The NSW Telestroke Service has been named as a finalist in this year’s Premier’s Awards. It is one of six finalists in the Excellence in Digital Innovation category. Find out more at NSW Public Service Commission - 2021 Finalists - Excellence in Digital Innovation.