FRAIL Team. Back row (l to r): Administration Officer Tracey Tinney, Allied Health Practitioner Will Dang, Nurse Navigators Jenny Thomes and Jodie Huntley-Forde
Front row (l to r): Registrar Emma Sganzerla, Consultant Geriatrician Dr Debbie Lee, Allied Health Practitioner Lizelle Lumb.
Absent: Geriatrician Dr June Chia, CNC Veronica Thomsett, CN Troy Teal, CN Madhu Lata

The introduction of a new specialist service is set to improve the care of frail older people presenting to The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH).

The Fast Review and Integrated Liaison (FRAIL) team is a nurse-led, physician championed interdiscplinary team that aims to optimise care delivery for older people presenting to the Emergency Department (ED).

The FRAIL team, which builds upon the model of care established by its predecessor the Older Persons Assessment Liaison Service (OPALS) aims to streamline assessment processes for frail older persons within the hospital and to facilitate seamless and timely care delivery from the time of admission right through to discharge.

Like OPALS, the FRAIL team will support TPCH in responding to the growing number of presentations of older persons to TPCH’s ED, the highest in Metro North. In January 2021, around 1,000 patients aged over 75 were seen in TPCH’s ED.

Specialist Geriatrician Dr Debbie Lee said that many older patients who present to the ED have complex clinical needs and require assessment from a number of specialist staff, which can lead to delays in care delivery.

“This means that patients can wait longer in the ED than desirable to receive the care they need, or be transferred to an appropriate ward for ongoing care,” Dr Lee said.

“Elderly patients are at higher risk of complications the longer they stay in hospital. So it’s critical these vulnerable patients are assessed early and supported through their hospital journey by the appropriate staff.”

Once an elderly patient presents to the ED, they are then referred to the FRAIL team who provides additional expert consultation, coordination and facilitation of care in partnership with expert ED staff, as well as external follow up and outreach support.

The team consists of consultant geriatricians, geriatric trainee registrar, nurse navigators, clinical nurse consultants, clinical nurses, Allied Health professionals and an administration officer. It also incorporates the RADAR (Residential Aged Care District Assessment and Referral) service to ensure that the frailest patients from residential aged care facilities receive the best possible care during their hospital admission, and are supported at home to avoid future admissions.

“The FRAIL team provides an important service in supporting frail, elderly patients to achieve a dignified, high quality care experience during their hospital stay and the best quality of life possible when they leave TPCH,” Dr Lee said.

“It is about taking care of our most vulnerable patients during their whole journey.”