Southcare Geriatric Flying Squad: an innovative Australian model providing acute care in residential aged care facilities. Issue 1 (3rd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jain, Shikha; Gonski, Peter N.; Jarick, Jeannette; Frese, Sandra; Gerrard, Sheena
• Is Part Of: Internal medicine journal. Volume 48:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2018-01-03
• Subjects: residential aged care facilities -- Geriatric Flying Squad -- hospitalisation -- nurse practitioner -- emergency avoidance; Medicine -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1111/imj.13672
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1444-0903

Abstract

Abstract: This study reviews the outcomes of a model developed to improve the quality of care of residents living within residential aged care facilities (RACF). The Southcare Geriatric Flying Squad saw a total of 640 acutely unwell RACF residents over an 18‐month period. Of these, 578 (90.3%) were managed in the RACF avoiding emergency department. Only 35 (5.5%) patients required emergency department transfer and 27 (4.2%) were directly admitted to a medical ward. The service may have reduced emergency presentations by offering rapid assessment and management, choice in place of treatment and level of interventions.