Far West Local Health District patients with specific uncomplicated fractures seen at the Broken Hill Health Service Emergency Department can now be referred to a Virtual Fracture Clinic by the emergency department clinician for follow-up care of their injury.
Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) and Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital established RPA Virtual in February 2020 with a virtual fracture clinic going live throughout the Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) on April 26. With the two LHDs working in close collaboration, Broken Hill patients can now receive follow-up care for their injury at home, work, or school without having to travel to a hospital or wait in a busy clinic.
Broken Hill Health Service physiotherapy staff are supporting and facilitating the implementation of the project, in partnership with RPA Virtual Hospital (rpavirtual) service.
NSW Regional Health Minister, Ryan Park, said the virtual fracture clinic means patients in remote and regional areas can access treatment without having to travel long distances.
“It’s all about making sure that people can have confidence in virtual medical care right across NSW,” Mr Park said.
“What we’re doing is combining the very best in medical staff and care with virtual services which mean our patients can get their treatment closer to home.
“That’s good for the system, that’s good for the community and it’s good for people who live outside our major centres,” said Mr Park.
Project Lead and rpavirtual Physiotherapist, Min Jiat Teng, said the partnership was ensuring patients received quality care regardless of where they lived.
“Virtual fracture clinic patients at Sydney LHD have reported excellent experiences and access to care,” Mr Teng said.
FWLHD Senior Physiotherapist, Brianna Turley, said the new service would reduce time spent on case managing patients with simple fractures through a more streamlined process.
“Min Jiat and the rpavirtual team have done an amazing job at providing easy to understand resources that detail the patient’s journey with their fracture,” Ms Turley said.
The rpavirtual physiotherapist contacts the patient at home to provide support and a suitable management plan.
In most cases, the patient does not need to return to the health service to be seen by local clinicians.
