Enhancing Comprehensive Care

Older people are more likely to be admitted to hospital or an aged care facility than younger people and are more likely to experience harm such as falls, physical deterioration, medication errors, infections, or confusion. Older people and their carers often report inconsistencies between the way they are treated and what matters to them.

Age-friendly health systems reliably provide a set of four evidence-based elements of high-quality care, known as the 4Ms (what matters, medication, mind and mobility) to all older adults in their system. The 4Ms represent a shift by health systems to focus on the needs of older adults. This system approach has been successfully implemented in over 2,000 clinical sites across the United States, with improved outcomes including reduced length of stay, reduced readmission rate, and fewer falls.

Aim:

Western Health will participate in the Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems in Victoria collaborative, led by Safer Care Victoria (SCV) in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), to co-design, test and refine the 4Ms framework in 2 clinical areas (Ward 1B and Grant Lodge). The collaborative is an opportunity to embed evidence-based change ideas that reduce harm and improve outcomes for older people.

Additionally we will undertake a gap analysis against the Comprehensive Care standard and develop an 18-month improvement plan to decrease hospital acquired complications and enhance the delivery of comprehensive care.