A new ‘hot floor’ will be developed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital to treat emergency patients who need to be admitted and to assist the flow of patients through the Emergency Department.

 

The ‘hot floor’ will bring together the Acute Medical Unit, Acute Surgical Unit and Acute Orthopaedic Unit to create a one-stop assessment area alongside the Emergency Department.

 

The model of care for patients will be based on that to be provided at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital when it opens in 2016. Patients will spend up to 48 hours in the 68-bed area while they are stabilised and undergo diagnostic tests prior to surgery or admission.

 

The Royal Adelaide Hospital intends to introduce the new arrangements later this month, once consultations with unions have been completed.

 

Health Minister John Hill said nearly $11 million had been invested over the past three years to support the quicker movement of patients through the RAH’s Emergency Department.

 

“In collaboration with the Commonwealth, we have set a target for our public hospital Emergency Departments to see, treat, admit to a bed or discharge 90 percent of their patients within four hours.

 

“This is now both a State and a national target and hospitals are working to achieve this target for the benefit of patients, irrespective of whether they are admitted to the hospital or discharged.

 

“Our Emergency Departments perform consistently at a very high level and a national report last week showed that South Australian hospitals are among the best performing in the nation in relation to Emergency Department waiting times.”

 

RAH General Manager, Professor Villis Marshall, said the new ‘hot floor’ would be supervised by consultant staff, experienced junior staff and a higher ratio of nurses.

 

“Staff in the Emergency Department and acute assessment area will work together to ensure patients receive the most appropriate care before they undergo emergency surgery or are admitted to hospital.

 

“Many patients can spend extra time in emergency awaiting tests and results. This new arrangement will provide a high level of care in a dedicated area specialising in the patient’s needs.

 

“On average, it can take three hours to get a CT scan and report and this can add to the pressure experienced during busy times in the Emergency Department.”

 

The RAH has also introduced a team, under the oversight of an Emergency Department consultant, which is working to ensure patients spend less time in the Emergency Department.