South Australian Virtual Care Service (SAVCS) is a statewide urgent specialist healthcare service providing high quality care using digital technology to people over the age of 18 years old.
Members of the community can access the service with the assistance of a healthcare professional such as a nurse and paramedic, or support workers, who provide in-person support for a patient, while they have a consult with one of the doctors or nurses via video link.
Only healthcare professionals such as paramedics, nurses, along with support workers and service providers can contact our service directly.
Where to go for help
- Emergencies - phone 000 for ambulance, fire or police
- healthdirect helpline - phone 1800 022 222
- Mental Health Crisis - phone 13 14 65
- Poisons Information Centre - phone 13 11 26
- Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service (CAVUCS), Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Frequently asked questions
See below a set of frequently asked questions on the SA Virtual Care Service.
Our service takes referrals from SA Ambulance Service, regional hospitals, healthdirect, community care teams and aged care homes and works alongside healthcare professionals and support staff to provide the most appropriate care and pathway for treatment.
This can often look like providing care at home, arranging a transfer, or referring to care options in the community.
SA Virtual Care Service provides high-quality and appropriate urgent care to a person, wherever they are located, across South Australia.
Bringing emergency specialist care into a person's home can benefit those who might otherwise face barriers to visiting an emergency department in-person, particularly older people and people living with disability or experiencing limitations on mobility.
People who live in rural, remote and regional areas of South Australia can also access SA Virtual Care Service via referral pathways with regional hospitals, community care providers, SA Ambulance Service and via healthdirect.
This service has reduced hospital emergency presentations while also ensuring that people are provided with the most appropriate care options.
We have found that 80 per cent of those people who receive care through SA Virtual Care Service have avoided attending a hospital emergency department.
If you are a service provider or referring agency or organisation, you can contact us via the contact form.
Patients need to be supported by a health professional or support worker who will facilitate a referral to SA Virtual Care Service and support patients through the process. We partner with paramedics, nursing, and other healthcare professionals, along with support workers.
If you are not with one of our referrers and unsure about your healthcare needs, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
The service is available from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm and operates 7 days a week, every day of the year.
We take referrals from our partners. These include:
- aged care workers and nurses
- disability support workers
-
healthdirect
-
regional health service facilities
- SA Ambulance Service
- SA Police.
Learn about the SA Virtual Care Service working alongside the nurse-led clinic at Gumeracha to deliver virtual care to the local community.