Victoria is expanding its Timely Emergency Care (TEC) program statewide, building on initial successes in reducing hospital stays and improving patient flow through emergency departments. The initiative, which began in late 2024, aims to deliver faster, more efficient care to Victorians when they need it most, and is backed by a $50.4 million investment in the 2025/26 Victorian Budget.
The expansion comes as Victoria leads the nation in providing timely care to urgent emergency department patients, according to the Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) 2026 Public Hospital Report Card. The report indicates Victoria was the only state or territory to improve in more than two of the AMA’s key performance indicators, while most others experienced a decline. This progress underscores the potential of systemic improvements driven by frontline staff, according to health officials.
The Timely Emergency Care program focuses on streamlining processes and increasing capacity within the healthcare system. Initial results have been promising, with over 65,000 bed days saved across participating hospitals in the first year. This equates to approximately four additional beds available each day, easing pressure on already strained resources. The program has resulted in an average of 9.6 hours saved per inpatient admission and prevented more than 2,600 avoidable admissions. More than 11,200 additional short-stay unit patients have also been treated, with care delivered 9 percent faster.
What is Timely Emergency Care?
The Timely Emergency Care Two (TEC2) program is a whole-of-hospital approach designed to improve healthcare operations through targeted improvements identified and implemented by frontline staff. Recognizing that those working within the system best understand its challenges, TEC2 empowers healthcare professionals to design, test, and implement solutions. The program is guided by a partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and a local and international Clinical Faculty, leveraging improvement science expertise and methodology.
TEC2 is structured around three key streams: Optimising Flow, focusing on reducing delays throughout the hospital; Excellence in Flow, aimed at reducing the length of stay for older patients; and Innovation in Flow, addressing complex challenges to patient flow and accelerating high-impact improvements. The 23 participating health services, along with the IHI and the Department of Health, are currently engaged in a cycle of testing and learning, with results expected to be released in 2026.
Focus on Ambulance and Emergency Care Standards
The next phase of the statewide program, beginning this week, will concentrate on reducing delays from the moment a patient arrives at the emergency department through to their discharge. A key component of this effort is the continued implementation of the Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care, ensuring hospitals operate under consistent, evidence-based expectations. These standards aim to expedite offload times, allowing patients to be seen more quickly and enabling paramedics to return to the road and respond to further emergencies.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas highlighted the program’s success, stating that the Timely Emergency Care program is “saving time at every step of the patient journey so that we can create more capacity in the system.” The program builds upon the success of the earlier Timely Emergency Care Collaborative (TECC), a collaboration between 14 health services, the Department of Health, IHI, and Ambulance Victoria.
The ongoing investment of $146 million is also focused on expanding alternative care pathways to alleviate pressure on paramedics and emergency departments. This multifaceted approach demonstrates a commitment to improving the overall efficiency and responsiveness of Victoria’s public healthcare system.
Looking ahead, the Department of Health will continue to monitor the impact of the expanded TEC program and analyze the results of the ongoing testing and learning cycles. The focus will remain on identifying and implementing innovative solutions to further enhance patient care and reduce wait times across the state.
What are your thoughts on the Timely Emergency Care program? Share your experiences and perspectives in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This article provides informational content about health and medical topics and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
