Rapid access to community care helps the elderly stay at home

The Rapid Access to Community Care Service is making a real difference to people’s lives by helping people access community-based health care services and home support services faster.
Back row, left to right: Helen Collen (Clinical Nurse), Katrina Timms (Administration Officer), and Libby Gallagher (Senior Occupational Therapist)
Front row: Elly Thompson (Clinical Nurse Consultant)

A new community-based rapid access health care service is having remarkable success supporting chronically ill older patients to stay at home and out of hospital.

The Rapid Access to Community Care (RACC) service assesses patients in the home so referrals to community or home support services can be fast tracked.

Community and Oral Health Director of Innovation and Research Mary Wheeldon said since its inception in 2023, the RACC service had assisted more than 500 adult patients who have experienced significant deterioration in their chronic disease or illness.

“A lot of these patients, who have an average age of 81, have highly complex medical conditions which require a broad range of home, domestic and support services, and who are at a higher risk of hospitalisation,” Mary said.

“Following a referral from a General Practitioner, Virtual Emergency Department or the Queensland Ambulance Service an assessment is provided via a clinician through telehealth or in the patient’s own home.

“The RACC team will provide a comprehensive assessment of health, functional capabilities and the ongoing support needs of the patient.”

As part of the service, patients can be referred to and access allied health, home care or domestic services delivered through Metro North Health Community and Oral Health, Brisbane North PHN Team Care Coordination or non-Government Organisations.

“The RACC service is making a real difference to people’s lives by helping people access community-based health care services and home support services,” Mary said.

The majority of patients so far are rapidly accessing community-based services such as the Post Acute Care Service, Complex Chronic Disease Team or PHN Brisbane North Team Care Coordination.

Further detail about the service can be found at Rapid Access to Community Care.