Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network has rolled out virtual emergency specialist support across three regional South Australian hospitals, with 89 per cent of patients using the service able to receive care locally.
The service, delivered with My Emergency Doctor, provides Kapunda, Tanunda and Angaston hospitals with virtual access to senior emergency physicians.
Between March and June 2026, emergency physicians provided 306 video consultations to support local nursing and medical teams, with 74 per cent taking place after hours between 6pm and 8am.
Patients waited an average of less than one minute for a patient support officer and 18 minutes for an emergency physician assessment.
BHFLHN said 86.6 per cent of patients were managed at the hospital where they presented and another 2.6 per cent were admitted locally without requiring transfer to a larger hospital.
Most presentations were moderate in urgency, with 57 per cent categorised as triage category three and 38 per cent as category four. Higher-acuity cases requiring further care, including severe trauma and sepsis, were transferred to larger hospitals.
BHFLHN Executive Director Medical Services Associate Professor Sharon Morton said the service was designed to support regional clinicians when specialist emergency expertise was needed.
“Remote emergency physicians step in seamlessly to support our regional clinicians when needed. It’s not just a video consult; it’s a robust collaboration that ensures a patient gets immediate access to senior emergency specialist decision-making, right alongside their local care team,” A/Prof Morton said.
Use of the service nearly doubled original forecasts during its first eight weeks, prompting BHFLHN and My Emergency Doctor to expand the arrangement.
The partnership now provides 24-hour coverage for Angaston Hospital’s emergency department from 8am Tuesday to 8am Friday, as well as coverage for its acute inpatient ward.
Connected Medical Solutions Medical Director Dr Tatiana Lowe said the service was intended to give regional facilities rapid access to senior clinical decision making.
“Providing rapid, high-standard clinical decision-making to regional facilities like Kapunda, Tanunda and Angaston is at the heart of what we do. Our team is proud to stand alongside local healthcare teams to safeguard patient care around the clock,” Dr Lowe said.
BHFLHN said the model also reduced its reliance on fly-in fly-out locums while providing regional nurses with real-time access to senior clinical support.
BHFLHN Executive Director Operations Kylie Williams said the service was helping the network respond to workforce pressures and the rising cost of temporary clinical coverage.
“It provides timely access to senior emergency expertise, strengthens our local clinical teams and supports safer, more sustainable care for our communities,” Ms Williams said.
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