The Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) acute care support service (RaSS) model provides care in partnership with general practitioners (GPs) and RACFs to increase patient choice of care setting and improves the quality and safety of care provided.
If a patient becomes unwell, the GP or nursing staff at the RACF, can contact the RaSS for advice and support. The resident’s acute care needs are assessed, and the most appropriate care delivery service is matched to these needs.
If necessary, the RaSS can arrange for a specialist nurse or doctor to visit the RACF to provide ED substitutive care. This means the patient can receive care in familiar surrounds under a framework of patient quality care and safety. If transfer to hospital is required, the RaSS can ensure that the receiving emergency department receives high-quality clinical handover prompting activation of appropriate services for the arriving patient.
CARE-PACT was the foundation model that led to the development of the RaSS model of care that has been implemented in health services across the State.