rpa virtual: a new way of caring Sydney Local Health District, HEALTH
The first virtual hospital in NSW, rpa Virtual Hospital, known as rpa virtual, was launched in early 2020 as an alternative sustainable solution to the increasing demand for healthcare in Sydney. It is a new model of care which combines Sydney Local Health District's integrated hospital and community care with the latest digital solutions.
A purpose-built Virtual Care Centre was established and equipped with ‘Care Pods’ that include videoconferencing technology and the ability to remotely monitor patients with wearable clinical monitoring devices. Initial groups of patients included community palliative care patients, patients at risk of readmission for wound care and patients with cystic fibrosis. Over 2,000 patients have been cared for in the first five months of operation, with high reported patient satisfaction. In response to the pandemic, rpa virtual was able to rapidly scale-up to provide virtual care for over 750 COVID-19 patients in quarantine.
