GEDI makes  a difference

Bribie Island’s Gordan Sully is one of many patients over 75 years of age who are receiving better care thanks to initiatives being rolled out as part of the Year of the Frail Older Person. He is pictured with Dr Sean Clarke and Chris Shaw.

Many elderly and frail patients are now benefiting from faster assessments and better care through the great work of the Caboolture Hospital’s ED.

Clinical Nurse Chris Shaw said the Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) project was reducing duplication of assessments and earlier interventions were leading to reduced length of stay and admissions to hospital.

“The GEDI project is ensuring that all patients aged 75 who come to the ED are assessed and given a comprehensive Geriatric Assessment,” Chris said.

“It is making early decision making a lot easier for our consultants with frail and elderly patients assessed before they are admitted to hospital, Hospital in the Home or discharged back to their home or Residential Aged Care facility.”

In addition, the pilot is ensuring that nurses at Residential Aged Care Facilities now have direct access to a staff member in Caboolture Hospital’s ED to discuss patient conditions.

The project, which began in May 2017, has developed strong groundswell of support from 15 local Residential Aged Care facilities across Bribie, Caboolture and Kilcoy.