Objective To evaluate the impact of an Australian Virtual Care service on low-acuity patient presentations to emergency departments (EDs) across a local health district. Design This was a retrospective study using an interrupted time series analysis to compare outcomes before and after the introduction of Mid North Coast Virtual Care (MNCVC).
The comparison of these periods aims to identify changes in the rate of semi-urgent (category 4) and non-urgent (category 5) ED presentations following the intervention. Setting This analysis covers the Mid North Coast Local Health District, a coastal region in New South Wales, Australia.
It encompasses EDs in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Macksville, Dorrigo and Bellingen. Main outcome measure Whether there was a reduction in low-acuity ED presentations (category 4 and 5) as a proportion of total ED presentations at Mid North Coast EDs following the commencement of MNCVC as an alternative to ED attendance.
Results In the years prior to intervention, the proportion of total ED presentations that were low-acuity presentations averaged 54.58%.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 31 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Evaluating the impact of an Australian Virtual Care service on low-acuity presentations to district emergency departments: an interrupted time series analysis.
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