In a Queensland-first, the new virtual fracture clinics (VFC) offered at Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (HHS) enable patients with minor fractures to be cared for by a nurse over the phone. The nurse-led service can provide care for for 14 different fracture types.
Most of the patients are children, and the nurse speaks often to parents or caregivers by phone. All referrals are triaged, and if appropriate, allocated to the VFC. The nurse makes a phone call to do an assessment and discuss the actual injury, how to look after it, when to see a GP as well as any concerns they have. The nurse also follows up with a written management plan in an SMS to the patient and in a letter to their GP. After the patient has been discharged from Orthopaedics Department, ongoing reviews are undertaken by allied health professionals or a GP.
Any adverse findings are clinically escalated to an appropriate review pathway. If urgent escalation of care is required, the pathway allows for easy access to an Orthopaedic Medical Officer.
