New Service An Alternative Care Pathway For Cardiac Patients

A new post-discharge cardiology service at Mackay Base Hospital is helping patients with non-urgent heart conditions bypass the Emergency Department and get advice or treatment when they need it most.

The Cardiology Rapid Access Service provides timely and appropriate care for patients with cardiac conditions who require follow up care or have queries after discharge from hospital, but who do not need immediate emergency intervention.

The nurse-led service has cared for more than 310 patients with non-urgent issues, including chest pain, palpitations, hypertension, arrhythmias and cardiac device checks since it commenced on May 12.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Executive Director Operations Mackay Jennifer Farley said the Rapid Access Service provided prompt specialist assessment and management for patients with known cardiac conditions.

“This post-discharge service is alleviating pressure on the Emergency Department by providing an alternative care pathway for cardiac patients,” she said.

“It’s also reducing length of hospital stays and the prompt treatment times prevent further health decline which means improved outcomes for patients.”

This also improved patient experience and provided continuity of care, she said.

Patients had reported very positive experiences with 100 per cent of those surveyed saying their issues were resolved in a timely manner by the service.

On average six patients a day were contacting the service with queries related to chest pain, palpitations, heart failure, cardiac procedure wound reviews, minor bleeding post procedure, understanding pre-post-operative instructions, follow-up appointments, pain management and cardiac device checks, Ms Farley said.

The service is self-referral with patients having previously been treated by the Emergency Department (ED), Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), Cardiac Cath Lab (CCL) and Heart Health team.

Cardiac patients are informed about the Rapid Access Service when visited by the nursing team prior to their discharge from hospital.

Mackay HHS Chief Executive Susan Gannon said the service was improving patient care and outcomes and was a reliable and trusted resource for cardiac patients returning home to rural communities.

“The Cardiology Rapid Access Service at Mackay Base Hospital is proving a great success and is providing fast and efficient treatment options for patients post-discharge from hospital.”

The Cardiology Rapid Access Service operates Monday to Friday between 8am and 3.30pm and calls are answered by a highly experienced clinical nurse consultant or nurse practitioner who can help resolves issues or advise patients when to come to the clinic or seek further help.

For life-threatening or severe problems, patients are urged to call 000 immediately or attend the local emergency department.

The Cardiology Rapid Access Service can be contacted on 0428 927 713.

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Mackay Base Hospital’s Rapid Access Service gives non-urgent cardiac patients fast post-discharge care, easing pressure on the Emergency Department. Photo supplied

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