The Emergency Telehealth Service is now available in 74 locations across WA's southern inland region
An evaluation of the Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI) has shown significant improvements to the delivery of health services in WA’s southern inland region.
The Southern Inland Health Initiative Program Evaluation – Preliminary Key Findings March 2016 – examined the impact of the various initiatives and programs against the strategic outcomes from baseline year 2010/11 through to 2014/15.
The preliminary key findings contained in the report indicate the following SIHI benefits:
- Significant improvements in emergency medical care in southern regional WA, with more doctors being supported to live and work in the country, and through the use of modern technology.
- SIHI is creating safer, better and more reliable emergency care to ensure rural and remote communities receive equitable access to high quality health care when compared with their urban communities.
- Significant increases in the range of local health services that bring care closer to home and are having a positive effect on helping people avoid hospital.
- Investing in upgrades of hospital and health service facilities will provide better care to the community in enhanced, modernised buildings.
- Economic benefits for country residents and Western Australia from better local hospital and health services.
SIHI has transformed emergency medical care, both through the introduction of the Emergency Telehealth Service in 74 locations, including hospital emergency departments (EDs) statewide, and more doctors in SIHI towns being available to fill ED rosters.
The half billion dollar Royalties for Regions investment in SIHI inlcudes a $300 million infrastructure program to improve hospital and health service infrastructure in 37 towns across the Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Mid-West and South-West.
Download a copy of the Southern Inland Health Initiative Program Evaluation Report – Preliminary Key Findings March 2016 (PDF 3.44MB).