RPA Virtual opens new, innovative nurse-led centre of care.

RPA Virtual Hospital’s Wound Care Command Centre has officially launched. 

A collaboration between Sydney Local Health District and NSW Health, the Centre delivers a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people with chronic wounds. 

“The Centre is an inventive response to the challenges identified in wound care,” District Chief Executive Dr Teresa Anderson AM said. 

“People suffer greatly because of wounds and don’t realise how devastating they are. It really impacts the quality of life of the people we serve.”  

Dr Anderson was joined by NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce to introduce the Centre to stakeholders and clinicians at RPA’s Kerry Packer Education Centre.  

Guests included NSW Health’s Deputy Secretary Clinical Innovation and Research, Jean-Frederique Levesque, Clinical Transformation Associate Director Gary Disher, eHealth NSW Chief Executive Zoran Bolevich and executives from the Agency of Clinical Innovation, Virtual Care Australia, the University of Sydney. 

The nurse-led model of care empowers skin integrity nurses to lead and collaborate with clinical or allied health professionals and other team members. 

“Health has always evolved and changed, and I’m delighted that nurses are leading this service,” Susan Pearce AM said. 

“This Wound Care Command Centre will go from strength to strength.” 

By working as a team, the innovative hybrid model of care is delivered by a multidisciplinary workforce of advanced wound care specialists. 

From the initial launch in January nurses have successfully treated 52 patients, with 432 occasions of service and estimated cost avoidance of $250,000 to the hospital system. 

Skin Integrity Program Lead Dr Michelle Barakat-Johnson is grateful to District executives and NSW Health stakeholders for the support from project inception to delivery, particularly District Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer Aaron Jones and rpavirtual Director of Nursing Danielle Levis.  

“Together, let us create a lasting impact in wound care. With your support, we can ensure quality treatment and support for every patient, anywhere in the world. All of this is just the beginning for a better future in wound care for Australians,” Michelle said.  

Virtual access to the specialist skills at the Wound Care Command Centre aims to improve clinician confidence, leading to more autonomous practice and comprehensive and efficient healthcare services. 

This new approach to wound management also enhances the capabilities of regional and rural clinicians, supporting optimal care to patients, and leveraging the unique learning opportunities that advanced technology and communication tools provide.  

Australia’s first virtual hospital, RPA Virtual played a critical role during the pandemic, providing clinical care to tens of thousands of patients.  

RPA Virtual hospital has since expanded, and now offers a range of hospital level care both virtually and in-person to patients in their homes.