Stroke care milestone

An incredible 20,000 patients have received lifesaving stroke care over the past decade, thanks to the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST) service, which has recently expanded to two new locations.

Run by Ambulance Victoria (AV) and operating across 20 regional hospitals throughout Victoria and Tasmania, VST allows clinicians to collaborate across organisational boundaries and provide time-critical care locally.

AV’s Grampians Regional Director Peter Jenkins said the service in Ballarat and Horsham plays a vital role in stroke treatment, with more than 300 consultations conducted between 1 July 2022 – 31 March 2023.

“Many rural and regional hospitals do not have a stroke specialist on site or lack around-the-clock access to this type of expertise,” Mr Jenkins said.

“People in these areas are 19 per cent more likely to have a stroke and a poorer outcome, making VST a game-changer in the emergency care of patients.”

When a suspected stroke case presents, the hospital contacts the 1300 number to speak directly with the on-call specialist. The specialist then has an audio-visual consultation with the patient, their family, and treating clinicians via a secure video link.

Patients needing more specialised stroke treatment are promptly transferred by Ambulance Victoria to hospitals in Melbourne.

AV’s Director of Stroke Services Professor Chris Bladin said every minute matters when suffering a stroke, which is why VST is crucial.

“The world-class service connects patients with expert doctors who provide diagnosis and treatment, enabling them to receive the right care at the right time regardless of their loca- tion,” Professor Bladin said.

“With stroke telemedicine, patients are receiving clot-busting drugs an average of 40 minutes earlier and often within an hour of arriving at hospital.”

VST operates in 18 regional Victorian hospitals and two sites in northern Tasmania.

VST is one of a range of health services Ambulance Victoria provides to the community as part of its ongoing commitment to world class research and best care for patients across the state.

There are hopes to further expand the service to other locations across the country.