A successful pilot Rapid Access Service at PAH will now be permanently funded, helping more patients be seen sooner without having to attend the Emergency Department.
The Medical Assessment and Planning Unit (MAPU) Rapid Access Service (RAS) team sees patients with various conditions from anaemia to skin infections, having streamlined the care of more than 145 patients since its launch on February 27.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Natalie Craft says the service is bypassing ED wait times by facilitating treatment within 24-48 hours of referral.
“For all the patient we see it's great because it means that they don't have to sit in an ED for many hours waiting,” Natalie said.
“For example, ladies with iron deficiency anaemia can sit in the ED for up to six hours. If their GP knows that we're an alternative, it's a same-day phone call and you can come in that day if you're symptomatic and get that treatment quickly.
“It makes a big difference for patients, and the feedback has been extremely positive.”
MAPU and RAS Medical Director Dr Casey Khoo said he owes the success of the service to the broader team.
“It's a very close, collegiate and true multidisciplinary partnership between our medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy and admin.”
Dr Khoo says the objective of the RAS is to effectively divert outpatient presentations from the ED to the RAS, which enables the team to streamline treatment and offer ongoing support to patients.
“The service is open to all appropriate referrals, regardless of whether the patient was known to PAH or Metro South Health.
“Once patients are known to our system, they are given a business card so they can phone us directly and use the service again.
“It’s a win for everyone involved.”
Dr Khoo says the renewed funding will enable the team to expand its services, and he looks forward to treating more patients as the service grows.
“At the moment, it’s only a five-day service with restricted hours. The main objective is for us to be able to provide extended hours of service, and hopefully a seven-day service.
“Hopefully we can continue to flourish and have more referrals and more activity. At the end of the day, this is really what we’re here to do.”