About us

Austin Health and the Royal Melbourne Hospital have been selected to run Victoria’s first Virtual Hospital in a pilot program – providing greater access to specialist care to Victorians. The pilot supports expert care for patients from the comfort of their own homes or local hospitals in rural and regional Victoria using innovative digital technology. It also aims to help patients return home sooner after a hospital admission by providing check-ups and monitoring remotely, where safe to do so.

Our services

An initial focus of Victoria’s Virtual Hospital is on supporting patients with heart failure to recover at home. In the coming months, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Austin Health will continue to expand Victoria’s Virtual Hospital services, including partnering with rural and regional health services.

Patients with heart failure 

If you come to Austin Health’s Emergency Department or a specialist clinic and need admission, you may be able to be cared for at home.

You'll be admitted to a virtual ward where Victoria’s Virtual Hospital will provide hospital level care in your home using video, telephone and other digital tools such as wearable devices to monitor things such as your heart rate.

The Virtual Ward is staffed by a multi-disciplinary care team including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

You'll be monitored and cared for at home with access to the medications you need. You will then be connected with follow up care through a specialist appointment or community services to reduce the chance of coming back to hospital unnecessarily.

Related services

• Hospital in the Home & Virtual Care

  We care for you in your own home.

• Better@Home

  We support you to get hospital care at home instead of staying in hospital.

• Heart disease

  We care for and treat people with all forms of heart disease.

Referrals

Patients with heart failure

To access our Virtual Hospital service, you’ll need a referral from an Austin Health clinician.

If Virtual Hospital is safe and suitable for you, we will work closely with you and your treating team to put everything in place for your care.