Health leaders and international experts will gather today for a workshop aimed at reducing ambulance ramping at Central Adelaide Local Health Network sites.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) CEO, Lesley Dwyer, said there has been some successes one year on from the Stop Ramping Summit, but there is still plenty of work to be done to end ramping.
“We are absolutely committed to addressing ramping and although we implemented a number of initiatives following the summit in February last year, ramping is still occurring far too often and at unacceptable levels,” Ms Dwyer said.
“While some strategies that came out of the summit have been successful, such as placing allied health experts and geriatricians in the emergency department and partnering mental health clinicians with SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) crews, other initiatives haven’t made the impact we expected.
“This is an opportunity to take stock of all of the initiatives we have underway, take learnings and develop the next plan of action.”
SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) CEO, David Place, said the service has recently announced plans to overhaul how it deals with Triple Zero calls in an effort to end ramping.
“Clinical telephone assessment will be introduced in mid 2020 to ensure that patients receive the very best care and are able to access the most appropriate pathway for their needs,” Mr Place said.
“The initiative will also free up capacity to ensure ambulances are available to respond to emergencies and ease pressure on emergency departments.
“Ramping is not right for anyone and it will take a combined approach from the ambulance service, hospitals and community providers to put an end to it.
“This is an important opportunity, one year on from the Stop Ramping Summit, to ensure we continue working together to make progress and deliver better health care for South Australians.”
CALHN is partnering with the new Commission of Excellence and Innovation to use data and analytics in a bid to stop ramping.
Key CALHN and SAAS staff, along with international experts in clinical process and practice improvement, will be involved in the workshop.
