The Andrews Labor Government is investing in a pioneering project that uses telehealth to provide higher quality care for critically ill patients at hospitals in Mildura, Robinvale and Ouyen.
Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, today announced the first 15 projects receiving funding from the new $10 million Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund.
Better Care Victoria, launched in March this year and led by an independent board chaired by former AMA President Dr Douglas Travis, will drive innovation across the health system to improve patient care and treatment.
The $10 million Better Care Victoria fund will support projects that improve the efficiency and productivity of our health system, improve patient outcomes and reduce waiting times.
As part of the first round of funding, Mildura Base Hospital, Robinvale Hospital and Ouyen Hospital will receive $809,369 for a project that uses telehealth to access top intensive care experts at major tertiary hospitals such as Barwon Health.
It is designed to increase the skills of rural clinicians to care for patients with chronic and complex medical conditions requiring critical care in Mildura and beyond, especially for Aboriginal patients and families.
With better capacity to treat complex conditions in intensive care, patients will avoid expensive hospital transfers and benefit from improved health outcomes.
Better Care Victoria was a key recommendation from the Travis Review, the most comprehensive audit ever undertaken into the capacity of Victoria’s hospitals.
The Victorian Budget 2016/17 delivered an extra $2.45 billion for health, so hospitals can admit more patients, reduce waiting times, upgrade buildings and infrastructure and keep Victorians healthy.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We know we need to do things differently to drive improvement. Our Better Care Victoria fund will support new ideas across the health system so more patients in Mildura and beyond will benefit.”
“Victoria is home to some of the best and brightest clinical minds. We are drawing on this expertise to find new, more effective ways to treat more patients, sooner.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Steve Herbert
“Our investment will mean critically ill patients in Mildura, Robinvale and Ouyen will be able to access world-class intensive care experts, without having to pay expensive hospital transfer fees or travel long distances.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020