April 2, 2024The Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre (KDH UCC) is a 24-hour a day facility that is available for all urgent care type presentations. Medical coverage is provided between the hours of 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, weekdays and weekends. All patients who present at the centre are triaged by one of their experienced registered nurses and assigned a triage assessment. The presentation numbers average 30 presentations per day.
KDH Urgent Care Centre treats patients with a range of medical conditions and is supported by Medical Officers seven days a week, with medical telehealth services available via the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED).
In November 2024, Northern Health and Kilmore District Health joined forces to become a stronger health service, caring together for the growing and diverse needs of the northern catchment. The amalgamation enabled both services to improve access to care for patients in the Northern Growth Corridor – one of Victoria’s fastest growing regions.
“We have already started to see the effects of the amalgamation. Future plans are in place for an increase in services, such as radiology, and there are additional opportunities for professional development through in service education, training session and courses” said Lisa Carlyon, UCC Nurse Unit Manager.
This is also a great opportunity to go across to the Northern Emergency Department, to experience exposure to the acuity and specialty areas such as paediatrics.”
Throughout the pandemic, the UCC took on the crucial task of Covid testing for community members within their catchment area. Despite operating from a small department with only four bays, they navigated the challenge of managing a high volume of patients while upholding stringent infection control measures. Faced with staffing shortages, the team innovated new practices to adapt to the evolving guidelines from the Department of Health. To address the surge in demand for testing, they introduced a drive-through Covid testing area, providing efficient testing solutions during both regular periods and outbreaks.
Recently, following a generous $25,000 donation from the Lions Club, the UCC team upgraded their equipment with ECG printout capability, enhancing timely care for patients, particularly those with chest pain. They also established an infusion clinic, addressing community needs for procedures like Iron infusions locally, reducing the necessity for patients to travel to the city.
Moving forward into 2024, the team aims to expand their on-site medical coverage and further develop the infusion clinic. This will bolster their capability to provide comprehensive care to patients within the community and close to home where possible. Kilmore UCC has a dedicated team of experienced nursing and medical staff who strive every day to deliver the best care to our community.
Pictured in featured image (L-R): Edric (ANUM), Lisa (Acting NUM), Simone (RN), Gurdie (CNS) and Dr Ahmed Memon (VMO).
