Efficiency of service delivery to frail elderly patients during their stay in Toowoomba Hospital Emergency Department

The overarching aim of this project is to optimise care provision to frail elderly patients during their stay at the Toowoomba Base Hospital Emergency Department (THED).

This will be achieved using a three stage approach which will identify current practice in relation to care of the elderly in the THED, then identify (through a comprehensive systematic review of the literature) evidence-based, age friendly models of care for Emergency Departments and finally, implement a best practice model in the THED.

It can be expected that this study will contribute to improved health outcomes for elderly people presenting to the THED, through the provision of higher quality nursing care. This should lead to reduced numbers of hospital admissions and reduced lengths of stay for those who are admitted. A secondary outcome of enhanced patient care will be greater client satisfaction with their ED experience.

The project will be an educative opportunity for nursing staff of the ED, and results of the study will provide them with the opportunity to reflect upon their current practice and identify areas for improvement as well as commend them for practices which are consistent with best practice. Findings of this study are likely to be relevant to ED's around Australia and internationally.

Project team:  Prof Cath Rogers-Clark, Susanne Pearce, Janice Doolan.

Funding source:  Toowoomba Hospital Foundation  AUD38 625.00