Diabetes virtual emergency service launched during National Diabetes Week
The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department’s new diabetes service will transform the way diabetes emergencies are managed in Australia.
Launched at Melbourne Connect during National Diabetes Week, VVED Diabetes provides access to cost-free, urgent telehealth care delivered by clinicians and nurse practitioners specialising in diabetes.
The Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI), Diabetes Victoria, Ambulance Victoria, Northern Health, and Royal Flying Doctors Service have worked together to build the service.
The benefits?
It will benefit Victorians in regional areas who have limited access to specialist diabetes care and is expected to reduce hospital admissions for people most at risk of acute complications.
ACADI Director Professor Elif Ekinci led the initiative.
“People living with diabetes must constantly manage their blood glucose levels to prevent serious spikes or drops,” Professor Ekinci says.
“The new virtual ED, allowing patients access to care immediately, will reduce the risk of further deterioration in their health.
It 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.”
The second stage is expected to be rolled out later this year and will feature an ambulance callout service.
Ambulance Victoria will respond to callouts made by the virtual clinic and paramedics will use blood ketone level testing kits to check if patients have developed diabetic ketoacidosis.
The patient will be carefully assessed to determine if they can be safely managed at home.
“Until now, most cases of hyperglycaemia attended by paramedics are transported to a hospital,” says endocrinologist Dr Ben Nash, one of the driving forces behind the project."
“Ketone testing will allow for rapid management of suspected diabetic ketoacidosis, while also identifying people that can be safely managed at home.”
The data generated by the Victorian service is expected to underpin the development of a national equivalent.
“People living with diabetes are at higher risk of life-threatening emergencies,” Diabetes Victoria CEO Glen Noonan said.
“This innovative service will enable better triaging of potential diabetes emergencies. We are proud to be involved in this initiative and I applaud the collaboration to get to this point where we will soon see tangible outcomes.”
Urgent Diabetes Care Made Easy.
The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) allows you to access urgent diabetes care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be connected to doctors and nurses via a video call, and receive medical advise from the comfort of your home.
Download the flyer and find out more about accessing the VVED.
Read more from Dr Ben Nash on the virtual emergency department set to revolutionise diabetes care here.
