Patient Care Facilitator trial in motion

AMA Queensland called for the introduction of PCFs in our Ramping Roundtable Action Plan and we commend Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and the Queensland Government for taking up our recommendation to reduce stress on hospital emergency departments.

The PCFs will work with the hospital-based discharge coordinator to identify eligible patients, review their patient information and ensure discharge summaries are received.

AMA Queensland Immediate Past President Dr Maria Boulton joined Minister Fentiman on Friday 6 September at Wellcare Medical Centre in Kingston to welcome the rollout of the trial.

“We know from studies that if patients see their GP within seven days following hospital discharge, they are 33 per cent less likely to bounce back into hospital,” Dr Boulton said.

“We also know how important it is for patients to have access to a regular GP for continuity of care, and this program will ensure patients are supported following hospital discharge.

“This program will not only facilitate that access, but it will also facilitate communication between the hospital and the patient's GP so that their GP can continue to provide the brilliant care that we know keeps patients healthy and out of hospital.

“It is fantastic to see the program commence in locations across Logan and Ipswich, and we hope to see it rolled out statewide.”

The state government is investing $2.4 million into the program over the next two years to help connect newly discharged patients to their local GP.

The two-year trial includes 10 PCFs in Logan and seven in Ipswich, with plans to review their success and consider the programs expansion across the state.

“AMA Queensland came up with this wonderful idea to actually put nurses or clinicians in GP practices to help facilitate patient care when people are discharged from hospital,” Minister Fentiman told journalists.

“We know when you're discharged from hospital, you get a lot of information about your medication, follow-up treatments and follow-up appointments with your GP, and it can be a really stressful, overwhelming time. So, that's where this wonderful new program comes in.

“Ipswich and Logan are two of the biggest, fastest growing communities in the southeast, and it's really where we need this additional support.

“I'm really thrilled that we've listened to the clinicians in the community trying to support their patients, because we do see a lot of people representing to the emergency department following hospital discharge.

“And if we can be more proactive and reach out and make sure they get the care they need when they need it, we are going to prevent more people turning up to our busy EDs.”

Lead practice nurse Vyapti Patel has taken on the PCF role at Wellcare where she ensures patients feel safe and reassured that their condition is being supported after hospital discharge.

“For patients who have been in hospital with chronic conditions or patients who have been going to the hospital very regularly, we want to help prevent further hospitalisations,” Ms Patel said.

“We give them a call within four days after their discharge, we arrange an appointment with a GP, they come down, we do a follow-up care plan or any follow-up care required in terms of the medication they have been discharged with, and then we go from there.

“It’s something new. So far, it’s been good. The patients we have been seeing are appreciating the efforts and we are doing our best.”