Phone: (03) 5722 5348
Mobile: 0408 711 461
Fax: (03) 5718 0247
Monday to Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm
The Residential in Reach (RIR) team consists of:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Registered Nurses (RN)
The aim of the Residential In Reach Service is to optimise the care of the resident with the residential aged care facility, or client within the community, thereby preventing unnecessary presentations to hospital. This allows the resident or client to remain in their own environment.
The RIR Program is not intended to replace or substitute the care that the care recipient’s.
Capacity of Service
- Acute and timely assessment of the unwell or deteriorating resident.
- Initiate treatment as needed.
- Short term case coordination of acute events.
- Changing or troubleshooting urinary catheters (including bladder scanning).
- Administration of intravenous fluids and medications.
- Liaison and support, advice and education to staff following discharge from the acute setting.
- Facilitation of referral to the Northeast Health Wangaratta Community Services including:
- Hospital in the Home service (direct substitute for inpatient care)
- Palliative Care
- Continence Service
- Stomal Therapy
- Allied Health
- Management of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube.
- Wound consultation – assessment and management.
- Assistance with end of life care.
- Advance Care Planning.
- Bedside blood tests.
- Bedside electrocardiograms (ECG).
- Fast tracking access for radiological investigations.
- Facilitation of access to hospital pathology and medical imaging records.
- Facilitation of optimal health outcomes for residents living in residential care facilities.
- Encouraging early intervention.
- Collaborative approach with General Practitioners.
- Facilitation of referral to Specialist Medical Services – in collaboration with GP.
- Facilitation of communication and relationship with General Practitioners, Residential Aged Care facilities and Northeast Health Wangaratta.
- Collaboration and capacity building with Clinical staff of Residential Aged Care Facilities.
- Reducing the need for transfer to hospitals and emergency departments by improving access to health care services at residential care facilities
Referrals
The RIR service accepts written or verbal referrals from:
- General Practitioners
- Residential Aged Care Facilities
- Residents and their Families
- Carers
- Hospital Staff
- Community Nursing Program
Urgent Referrals: Please call 0404 711 461 or 03 5722 5348
Non Urgent Referrals: Please complete RIR ISBAR referral form and email to: palliativecarefax@nhw.org.au or Fax to: 03 5718 0247