WADEMS is a non-profit cooperative incorporated association which was established in 1977 for the provision of after hours deputising medical services on behalf of our member General Practitioners.
WADEMS provides access to a home visiting medical practitioner, 24 hours, 7 days per week.
The service provides comprehensive quality after hours home visit care, deputising for the majority of general practitioners in the Perth Metropolitan area.
The after hours home call network involves dealing with urgent general practice type problems as well as emergency medical problems, some of which require specialist referral.
The doctor works from his or her own vehicle and receives patient calls by way of a mobile phone. During the shift, the locum maintains a continual liason with base and at the end of a shift the locum signs off.
The essence of the after hours work is speed and efficiency since the doctor is kept busy.
The locum's role is to attain the salient features of the presenting problem and obtain those aspects of the examination necessary to obtain a working diagnosis and plan of management.
The essential features of the after hours work is providing immediate urgent treatment, and/or referral, if needed, before the patient returns to the care of his/her usual GP.
It is important to remember that the locum is an after hours extension of the patient's usual GP and the locum needs to be cognisant of the usual GP's management preferences.
Normally, the locum would be expected to perform about four to five home visits every two hours, with backup during busy periods.
WADEMS aims to see nearly all patients within two hours of initial contact. There will be times, however, when the waiting periods may extend beyond two hours.
WADEMS provides doctor coverage 24 hours a day, with standard shift times, however shift times may be tailored to suit the individual locum looking to work with WADEMS.
If you are interested in joining WADEMS, please complete the feedback form and we will contact you.