An updated Mid and North Coast HealthPathway is now available for NSW Ambulance Authorised Care Plans.
The pathway aims to guide clinicians to best assist patients with chronic or life-limiting illnesses and who prefer to be treated at home if possible. It outlines how paramedics may provide care that is outside their usual protocols when a patient has completed a NSW Ambulance Authorised Care Plan with their GP.
Included is information and advice about establishing a NSW Ambulance Authorised Care Plan, along with eligibility criteria, documentation and endorsement requirements. Forms for the care plans are available on the HealthPathway from NSW Ambulance. This information can also be found on the Advance Care Planning HealthPathway.
HealthPathways Clinical Editor Dr Hilton Koppe said the care plans help prevent avoidable transfers to hospital.
‘If the wish of the person and their family is for the person to be cared for at home, the care plan will support that and, if an ambulance is called, make it easier for paramedics to act to best follow the patient’s wishes,’ Dr Koppe said.
‘It gives the paramedics an opportunity to institute some treatments they may not otherwise be able to do to help keep the patient at home.’
There are two broad categories of care plans. The first covers general patients and the second is for people needing palliative care, including those with dementia.
Dr Koppe highlighted the importance of the patient, a carer or family member retaining a copy of the care plan in a safe and easily accessible location.
‘The paramedics who attend will know a plan is in place but won’t have access to the actual plan,’ he said. ‘Paramedics will currently only accept NSW Ambulance Authorised Care Plans, not any other.’
Once completed, the care plan can be emailed to NSW Ambulance at [email protected] or faxed to NSW Ambulance on (02) 9320 7380.
For more info, email [email protected] or phone (02) 9779 3801.
For a list of all localised pathways see:
Mid and North Coast Localised Pathways
Username: manchealth
Password: conn3ct3d
For further information about HealthPathways, email [email protected] or [email protected].