News
We received funding for this project in mid 2021, shortly before another 'COVID winter' in Melbourne. Below are some of the hightlights so far.
First Tele-Stroke Unit Consult
8th November 2021
We have completed 9 BUILDS consultations since the pilot launch. A consult typically starts with a 'paper round' with members of the local stroke team presenting the case, discussing progress, and reviewing scans, medications and the care plan. This is followed by a bedside consultation with the patient, much like a normal ward round except the neurologist is on the screen (pictured).
Stroke Team care vs Stroke Unit care
7th December 2021
Is your hospital providing Stroke Unit care or Stroke Team care? We outline our thoughts in this poster.
Half way through the pilot..
​
27th April 2022
We have passed 40 initial consults this month, and we are getting ready to plan for further expansion of BUILDS.
BUILDS is expanding!​
7th July 2022
Thanks to the exceptional support and vision of John and Margaret Bland through the Eastern Health Foundation BUILDS are now in a position to expand to additional health services.
​
The BUILDS team hosted a service expansion webinar at the end of June. It was well attended by Victorian and Tasmanian stroke clinicians.
​
We are seeking expressions of interest from regional health services who are keen to implement BUILDs to support stroke unit care. Applications close July 15th 2022.
Please contact larthurson@erh.org.au for further information.
8th Decemeber 2022
We received a certificate for our participation in the 25th Annual Australian Council on Healthcare Standards Quality Improvement (QI) Awards 2022.
Merry Christmas!!
22nd Decemeber 2022
It has been a very big year for the BUILDS team!
We thought we would close the year by sharing our progress and achievements.
The clinical phase of the project has come to an end and we have transitioned to
analysis of the data and preparation for publication of the project outcomes.
The success of the project, evident in the preliminary data, has led to discussions regarding continuing the service
at Echuca. We are currently developing a model so that BUILDS can transition to a sustainable, health service
funded model. We are thrilled with this outcome.
​
2022 Highlights
​
-
100+ patient consultations
-
Securing $300K funding to expand BUILDS to additional regional health services
-
Welcoming North West Regional Hospital, Burnie, Tasmania and Central Gippsland Health, Sale
-
Sharing the BUILDS story and progress at state, national and international webinars and conferences
-
The release of the BUILDS promotional video
​
Spreading the word
-
Stroke Care Innovation for Regional Australians, Stroke Clinical Network, Safer Care Victoria, 26th April
-
Introducing BUILDS, Stroke Clinical Network, Safer Care Victoria, 1st April
-
BUILDS: a novel telestroke unit service, Smart Strokes 2022, Oral Presentation, August 18th, Sydney
-
BUILDS, Stroke 2022, Stroke Society of Australasia, Poster Presentation, September 2nd, Christchurch,
New Zealand
-
Stroke Unit Care, Oral presentation, Australian Stroke Clinical Registry, July 13th, Webinar
Victorian Telestroke Inpatient Service
1 July 2023
BUILDS has now transitioned to a health service funded model at Echuca. The service at Echuca is now renamed Victorian Telestroke Inpatient Service (VTIS), operating as one of the services provided by Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST), part of Ambulance Victoria. We thank Professor Chris Bladin and his team for their support.
​
The Executive and clinical team at Echuca Regional Health recognised the postive impact of the service on patient outcome and resource use. They noted the benefit of staff development through targeted stroke education and were pleased with the high level of satisfaction with the service reported by patients, family and the local stroke team. ​
​
The BUILDS team would like to thank AVANT for the seed funding that made this pilot possible and all the clinical and executive team at Echuca for their commitment to improving stroke care in regional Australia. We think this is the start of something remarkable. Watch this space.
SSA Annual Scientific Meeting
11 July 2023
We look forward to sharing the results of BUILDS Telestroke Unit Care at Stroke 2023. We have the opportunity to showcase the clinical outcomes of BUILDS with an oral presentation Wednesday 23rd August, the patient and staff experience with a poster presentation and BUILDS will be included in our Championing Care keynote which focuses on improving regional access to evidence based stroke care. We hope to see you there!
Victorian Public Healthcare Awards - Award finalists
26 Oct 2023
We are excited to announce BUILDS at Echuca was selected as a 2023 Victorian Public Healthcare Award Finalist in the Care Closer To Home category.
While we didn't take the trophy home on the Awards Gala Night, we are very proud the first hospital in Australia to have a Tele-Stroke Unit is in Echuca.
BUILDS at North West Regional Hospital started
9th Nov 2023
The first BUILDS consultation happened on the 9th of Nov 2023!
​
The North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) is located in Burnie and is the third largest hospital in Tasmania. It maintains a 24-hour emergency department and provides an extensive range of healthcare services, including medical and surgical services, within its designated role in the Tasmanian Role Delineation Framework. It is the main referral hospital for North West Tasmania.
​
In 2022, there were 163 admissions to NWRH with a Stroke or TIA diagnosis and was why the hospital was a successful applicant to the Bridging the Urban and Regional Divide in Stroke Care (BUILDS) program. The 12-month pilot project commenced on 9 November 2023 with the aim to work towards Stroke Unit Type Care.
The NWRH BUILDS team includes General Medicine Staff Specialist Dr Shantha Dewage as well as Stroke Service Clinical Nurse Consultants Janell (Nellie) Cole and Julie Elphinstone as well as Allied Health Stroke Coordinator Amy Turner. Executive Director - Allied Health Services (NW) - Elizabeth McDonald is the project Executive Sponsor.
​
Image caption left to right: Dr Shantha Dewage (General Medicine specialist), Nellie Cole (Stroke Service clinical nurse), Amy Turner (Allied Health Service stroke coordinator) and Elizabeth McDonald (BUILDS project Executive Sponsor).
The first BUILDS consultation happened on the 16th of Nov 2023!
​
The patient was a man who was previously fit and well, initially presented to the hospital with acute mild right arm and face weakness. Within hours he deteriorated with worsening symptoms. On both occasions VST was consulted and he was managed appropriately from a medical perspective.
​
However, the patient, particularly his wife, couldn't understand what actually happened - did he have a second stroke? why did he get worse?
​
During the BUILDS consult, all these questions were addressed. His brain imaging, medical management was reviewed together with the local team.
​
The BUILDS pilot concluded at Sale in Nov 2024.
​
Image caption left to right: Mel Wilson, Acute Care Co-ordinator, Lisa Watson, NUM Medical Ward and Kate Shaw, Acute Care Co-ordinator. Mel, Lisa and Kate are all sharing the BUILDS Stroke Co-ordinating role with Lisa being the main contact.
BUILDS at Sale Hospital started
16th November 2023
VTIS @ Burnie, Spot On award, and BUILDS National
17th Jan 2025
The NWRH joins ERH to be the second hospital transitioning to VTIS after a successful pilot, VTIS will commence at Burnie in 2025.
​
Congratulation to the Burnie Stroke Team in winning the Spot On! award from the health literacy network, Tasmanian Department of Health! - for details click the picture on the right.​
​
BUILDS National - supported by a Medical Research Fund Grant led by Felix Ng as CIA, is set to start in 2025. We will have more updates about this soon.
​
​
BUILDS paper & ANZSO Hobart
A "Quality Improvement Report" on BUILDS is now published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health!
​​
A number of abstracts on BUILDS/VTIS will also be presented at the Australia and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Annual Scientific Meeting in Hobart in September this year. ​
​
We look forward to seeing you there.
19th June 2025
