SA’s first virtual heart hospital opens
South Australia’s first online cardiac hospital has been opened in Naracoorte in the state’s south-east.
The virtual hospital allows rural medical staff to link up to cardiologists in major cities via the internet.
The clinical director of the program, Dr Phil Tideman, says the program is a response to the higher rates of cardiac deaths in rural areas.
Mr Tideman says the service helps medical staff in rural areas, it does not replace them.
“We actually provide the back-up services and the educational services and the tools to enable the doctors on the ground to actually do the job, rather than other people trying to do it from outside,” he said.
