The Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) has taken immediate action following last week's landmark Summit to Stop Ramping.
Lesley Dwyer, CEO CALHN, said the momentum from the workshop has continued with a number of new initiatives commencing from this week.
"Our first new project began with a trial at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) on Monday, embedding specialist geriatric clinicians within the Emergency Department," Ms Dwyer said.
"The geriatrician, physiotherapist and occupational therapist are working alongside emergency department staff to give vital expertise at the earliest opportunity.
"We have already helped a number of patients avoid a hospital stay, by receiving appropriate care at home with specialist medical support, equipment and services."
"While it is early days, this is exactly the kind of action that eases the pressure on the emergency department and results in much better outcomes for our patients."
The 'EDGE' project is designed to ensure elderly people who require inpatient care are given the best support throughout their stay and identify those who can be cared for closer to home.
Dr Alice Bourke, Clinical Lead of Geriatric Medicine at RAH, says the early feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive.
"One patient's family said they had never had such good service and all have thanked
us for the care and advice they've received for their loved ones, which shows we are on the right path," Dr Bourke said.
Further initiatives include the launch of a patient awareness campaign which prompts clinical staff, patients and their families to ask the following four questions.
- What is wrong with me?
- What is going to happen - now, today, tomorrow?
- What do I need to achieve to get home?
- When can I expect to go home?
Ms Dwyer said this technique is used across Australian and internationally and has been proven to reduce delays in care and improve patient flow, while also ensuring patients know what is happening to them.
"When patients are empowered to ask us questions we will go a long way to improving our discharge and actually achieving what our patient wants," Ms Dwyer said.
A roadmap with further projects will be finalised and implemented in coming weeks.
