Mobile tech ‘life saver’ for regional patients

South West residents who are critically unwell will now be better connected to experts in the metropolitan area, thanks to the distribution of new mobile telecarts throughout the State.

Five of the devices were sent to WA Country Health Service hospitals and health services across regional WA, including Albany, Geraldton, Hedland, Kalgoorlie and Bunbury.

The new portable telecarts will allow for clinicians at those hospitals to manage critically unwell patients by working with metropolitan-based specialists through videoconferencing and virtual consults.

Bunbury clinicians will be able to use their device — which will act as a telehealth workstation on wheels — at any point in the patient’s journey where support from an ICU specialist and critical care nurse is required.

WACHS command centre director Donna Rogers, pictured, said metropolitan-based specialists being able to conduct telehealth “face-to-face” assessments and consults via the devices could prove life saving to patients in regional areas.

“With the assistance of nurse leaders for each site the new telecarts have been tested,” Ms Rogers said.

Training is currently under way to ensure our country-based teams are prepared for a range of medical scenarios where assistance from the telehealth clinician could support them to save a patient’s life.

WACHS sent the additional telecarts across the State to further support the health staff in regional communities.

The new telecarts supplement those already in use in Broome and some WACHS maternity sites.