As part of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) efforts to reduce overall Specialist Outpatient (SOPD) long wait volumes, the Neurology Outpatients Service Redesign project was initiated and, through close interactions with both Executive and Clinical Teams, implemented a range of innovative and alternative models of care. These models included Advanced Allied Health Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner screening clinics and nurse-led phone screening clinics. The implementation of these alternate models, as well as short term strategies including After-hour consultant clinics, resulted in a significant reduction in long wait volumes as well as a subsequent service delivery sustainability.
Reducing Neurology Specialist Outpatient Long Waits
Initiative Type
Redesign
Status
Deliver
Added
Last updated
Summary
Key dates
Jan 2016
Jan 2018
Implementation sites
Gold Coast University Hospital
Aim
Reduce the number of patents waiting outside the clinically recommended timeframe for their Neurology appointment.
Benefits
Provides a sustainable service model to ensure adequate capacity to meet both current and future demand.
Background
Neurology Specialist Outpatients (SOPD) waiting outside of their clinically recommended timeframes (long wait) peaked at 484 patients in February 2017.