A new 24/7 remote health monitoring service is set to reduce hospital admissions and improve patient care throughout regional South Australia.
In a South Australian first, patients can measure their vital signs at home using a monitoring kit and be assessed by a nurse or doctor via live video link at any time of the day or night, seven days a week.
The free service improves access to urgent care, avoids unnecessary visits to emergency departments and supports rural GPs.
24/7 remote health monitoring is for patients at risk of hospitalisation, including people with heart and respiratory disease and infections, regional aged care facility residents and COVID-19 patients with underlying health conditions.
The service is available to patients in rural and regional South Australia aged 15+ with a GP referral.
After being referred, patients are given a take home kit, including a smart tablet.
They check their blood pressure, oxygen levels, pulse rate and temperature and upload results to a secure website. A specialist nurse reviews the results and speaks to the patient before deciding the next steps, which could include escalating care to an after-hours GP service.
The 24/7 remote health monitoring service launches Friday 17 February.
The service is funded by Country SA PHN (Primary Health Network).
For more information, please visit Remote Health Monitoring.
Quotes
Attributable to Chris Picton
We are committed to reducing the strain on Emergency Departments and freeing up resources for those who need them the most.
The delivery of remote health monitoring for regional South Australians, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will mean patients can access high quality care any time they need it, in the comfort of their own homes.
From Rural Support Service Executive Director Debbie Martin
This is an exciting new service that will improve access to urgent care in rural and remote areas, and extend the care of GPs into patients' homes.
Patients will receive round the clock assurance, be more informed about their health needs, and our country GPs will be supported.
From Country SA PHN CEO Mark Hartigan
Country SA PHN is pleased to fund this innovative activity that will support country South Australians to access their own primary health care where and when they need it.
Empowering rural and remote communities through this program is a win-win for country South Australians and for the health system more broadly.
