An Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit has been opened on Tuesday 8 November at St John of God Midland Public Hospital (SJGMPH) to provide urgent assessment and treatment for patients initially presenting to its Emergency Department.
SJGMPH CEO Paul Dyer said the unit has been designed to reduce waiting times, improve patient flow, avoid unnecessary overnight admissions and enhance the patient experience.
“With less patients requiring an overnight stay, it will reduce waiting times in the Emergency Department and enable more beds to be available in the hospital,” he said.
“Suitable patients will be identified in our Emergency Department and prioritised for transfer to the Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit for same day assessment and management.”
The unit will enable patients to have:
- Diagnostic tests and treatments on the same day
- Avoidance of hospital admission and a long wait
- Individualised specialist driven medical plan.
If required, patients will return to the unit the following day for an outpatient follow up appointment for further investigations or to review the patient to ensure they have not deteriorated.
Mr Dyer said as a busy public hospital, with one of the busiest EDs in Perth, SJGMPH is always looking at ways to help reduce waiting times and enhance the care provided to patients.