NSW Health WSLHD Safety & Quality Account 2020-21

COVID-19

COVID-19: Care In Hospital Rapid Assessment, Intervention, and

RED Bus-Westmead and Blacktown- COVID-19 response

Discharge-Emergency Department (RAID-ED) The RAID-ED project was a WSLHD Model of Care (MoC) implemented across Westmead and Blacktown Emergency Departments (ED) to reduce the demand on inpatient hospital beds for non-COVID-19 patients. The intervention included a rapid response seven- day, extended hour’s service, which included a team of physiotherapists, social workers, and occupational therapists providing timely allied health multidisciplinary treatment in ED. Since its implementation in October 2020, the team have seen over 3,500 patients with over 59% of these patients directly being discharged from ED; with 31% of these discharged patients receiving additional follow-up care and services arranged post discharge. Patient reported experience measures as captured by the My Experience Matters survey demonstrates that patients managed by RAID-ED team have had positive experiences : • Westmead RAID-ED Team scoring 100% and Westmead overall ED scoring 92% (previously 58%) and • Blacktown RAID-ED Team scoring 90% and Blacktown overall ED scoring 79% which was (previously 53%).

During the peak of Delta and Omicron, many people with COVID-19 presented to WSLHD Emergency Departments to receive urgent care but did not require a hospital admission. With a wait time of between 4-8 hours for traditional transport home, the RED Bus was established to provide a COVID-safe means of transport for patients residing within the WSLHD catchment area, who no longer needed to be admitted to hospital. The service ran 24hours 7 days per week and at its peak two vehicles were running simultaneously to service the demand. The implementation of the Red Bus reduced the extensive wait times for transport and resulted in patients being discharged home without delay, subsequently improving the flow of patients through the Emergency Department Hot Zone, a physical area for COVID-19 positive or suspect patients, and the numerous COVID-19 wards in the facility. During operation in 2021, the Red Bus has transported a total of 1874 patients home. Transport wait times for COVID-19 positive patients have reduced from 4-8 hours to an average of 39 minutes.

Westmead Allied Health RAID-ED program launch.

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