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Evaluating the impact of Geriatric Outreach Services

Four geriatric outreach services across Sydney and SouthEast Sydney Local Health Districts were evaluated in 2019/20 to identify service improvements and cost-efficiencies.
Participants included the NSW Ambulance Service; clinicians from five teaching hospitals; residential aged care facility (RACF) staff and residents; GPs and outreach service staff.

RACF resident ED presentations cost NSW Health $60M in 2018. In reviewing 10,000 ED presentations by RACF residents, around 40% were preventable using appropriate GOS services.

Reviews of GOS service outcomes are uniformly positive in reducing preventable hospital presentations; reducing length of stay; reducing whole-of-system costs of care; and providing more appropriate consumer- focused options.

Source: Submission - Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety, July 2021


Program Review: General Practice Investment Strategy

Commissioned by a regional / rural Primary Health Network (PHN), the review evaluated the effectiveness of a two year grants program to increase primary care capacity in mental health, chronic disease management, alcohol and other drug services.

As well as identifying successful examples of innovation in grant application, actionable recommendations included grant support and management; implementation support and reporting improvements.