From concept to reality: A comprehensive exploration into the development and evolution of a virtual emergency department

• DOI: 10.1002/emp2.13231
• Publication Date: 2024-07-25T07:42:15Z
• Authors: Jason Talevski; Adam I. Semciw; James H. Boyd; Rebecca L. Jessup; Suzanne M. Miller; Jennie Hutton; Joanna Lawrence; Loren Sher
• Keywords: Emergency Medical Services; RC86-88.9; digital health; Health sciences; Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid; Nursing; 613; FOS: Health sciences; crowding; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; emergency medicine; Health services and systems; telemedicine; triage

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding remains a persistent challenge in global public health, leading to detrimental outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals. Traditional approaches to improve this issue have been insufficient, prompting exploration of novel strategies such as virtual care interventions. Our team developed the first comprehensive statewide virtual ED in Australia, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, offering an alternative to in-person care for non-life-threatening emergencies. Here, we present the development and ongoing refinement of this pioneering virtual care service, aiming to provide insights for hospital administrators and policymakers seeking to implement patient-centric care solutions worldwide. By sharing our model of care, we hope to guide further work toward addressing the global problem of over crowded EDs.