Launch of the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department-Diabetes Service
A specialised virtual emergency department catering for people living with diabetes will improve access to care at the time of an emergency, while taking pressure off stretched hospital wards across Victoria.
The Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) and Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) launched the service earlier this month as an extension of the VVED, which was established in 2020 to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
The new virtual service, called VVED Diabetes, will provide free video consultations to people with diabetes suffering urgent non life-threatening complications.
The service, delivered by diabetes nurse practitioners and emergency clinicians, provides a lifeline to those living in regional and remote areas, where access to urgent care is often limited.
University of Melbourne Professor and ACADI Director Elif Ekinci, who led the initiative, said, “diabetes is the fastest growing chronic health condition in Australia and those living with the disease must constantly manage their blood sugar levels to prevent serious spikes or drops.The new virtual ED, allowing patients access to care immediately, will reduce the risk of further deterioration in their health, and will assist in breaking down the city to country divide by offering immediate support to those who would otherwise travel long distances for an in-person medical consult.”