First 24/7 virtual emergency clinic in Australia's outback launchedIn Australia's outback
Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has opened the country's first virtual medical emergency center without staff. In South Australia, the RFDS William Creek Community Health Service offers a telehealth unit and a virtual emergency center open around-the-clock for connecting visitors and locals with RFDS physicians who are on call. The facility contains an on-site AED and RFDS medical chest for prompt physician-guided care, as well as replaceable diagnostic equipment such blood pressure, oxygen, and ECG leads. For excellent photos, the facility also has imaging equipment. The emergency facility, which was constructed using prefabricated and modular components, features two multipurpose patient care spaces for RFDS's twice-weekly fly-in consultations, a communal area with a waiting area and restroom, and direct access to the William Creek Airstrip. It has a Starlink high-speed internet connection, and Fortinet security is in place. The project was started by the SA Outback Communities Authority with A$1 million in financing ($650,000), which the RFDS matched through fundraising.
Being the entry point to the Simpson Desert and the destination for more than 26,000 tourists who walk the Oodnadatta Track every year, the round-the-clock virtual emergency care clinic serves as a lifeline in the outback, drawing more and more tourists every year. The center will open in April, according to a press release.
