Enhanced after-hours support

Access to appropriate after-hours support and care for residents of Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) enables prompt assessment and treatment and may prevent unnecessary presentations to hospital emergency departments. Brisbane North PHN has been working with RACHs since 2021 to develop resources that support RACH staff during the after-hours period.

A range of strategies are being developed and will be used as part of this project including:

• compiling an up-to-date list of after-hour service options in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region
• develop a checklist tool to assist aged care facilities to assess their existing after-hours plans
• provide guidance and support to assist aged care facilities to develop/update and implement their after-hours action plans
• promote educational opportunities for staff in residential aged care facilities to build capacity in utilising after-hours action plans and associated resources
• encourage facilities to implement procedures to update consumer digital health records
• promote engagement between facilities, the general practitioner team and allied health professionals in relation to after-hours care.

After-hours action plan self-assessment checklist

The after-hours action plan self-assessment checklist assists RACHs to assess their current after-hours care arrangements in relation to responding to clinical deterioration.

The key elements of an after-hours action plan should include consideration of:

• clinical governance
• workforce
• infrastructure
• systems.

Assessment results are used to guide the development or revision of an RACH-wide after-hours action plan.

After-hours action plan template

The after-hours action plan template than can be used in conjunction with the self-assessment checklist to develop or update an RACH-wide after-hours action plan.

RACHs are encouraged to use this resource as a starting point when developing or revising their plan and customise it to suit the needs of their organisation.

After-hours services in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region

This resource is for residential aged care staff to support awareness of available local after-hours services. This resource should be used in conjunction with each facility’s After-Hours Action Plan.

Using appropriate after-hours services can:

• support residential aged care staff with advice and medical guidance
• provide best practice care for consumers
• reduce unnecessary hospital presentations
• promote early identification and clinical assessment of health deterioration.