RAC off COVID – collaborating with private Residential Aged Care (RAC) to protect our most vulnerable.
Sandra Wharton1, Anne Field1, Sarah Booker1, Alison Attenborough1, Cathie Hallahan11WNSW LHD, Orange, NSW, Australia
AIM: To protect residents from contracting COVID-19; keep residents well supported in their ‘homes’ (Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF); and minimise unnecessary hospital admissions.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for unprecedented collaboration with independent RACFs across the LHD.
The LHD recognised that the residents of our forty-nine RACFs (28 separate organisations with 3,111 beds) across our huge geographical footprint (31% of NSW) were amongst the most vulnerable at the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic.
Relationships across this sector were fragmented, with additional rural challenges e.g. RAC workforce and Genral Practitioner (GP) shortages, lack of Infection Prevention and Control education and support and old facilities.
A team of experts from three directorates was brought together to support RACFs focussing on preparedness, conducting desktop exercises, providing guidance on Advance Care Directives, Infection Prevention and Control, reviewing Outbreak Management Plans, and linked sites with clinical expertise. It conducted Infection Prevention and Control audits on all sites (requiring 5,500 km of driving).
At the heart of the project’s success were our four core values:
•Collaboration
•Openness
•Respect
•Empowerment
The team managed 110 outbreaks, with 1,224 COVID +ve resident cases. However, only 50 hospital admissions (4%) were required. RACF managers have confirmed the importance of this support via feedback mechanisms/surveys.
This project has very strong links to the strategic goals of the Western NSW Strategic Plan 2020-2025: Improved health and wellbeing of our people; world-class rural health care; and one service across many places
Biography
Sandra is the Infection Prevention and Control Consultant for Western NSW LHD and has been passionate about Infection Prevention and Control for way too many years – supporting, educating and mentoring.
Western NSW LHD is the largest Local Health District in NSW covering an area of 246,676 square kilometres – similar to the size of Britain.