Patient Shuttle Service Model Project Questionnaire

Overview

There is increasing pressure on our bed capacity at Robina Hospital and this has impacted timely access to care for many patients due to ED ramping.

The case for change: The Community Transport Vehicle (CTV) model/project focuses on how to improve the utilisation of a community transport service to support timely patient flow thus improving the available inpatient bed capacity and in turn improving ED access.

In 2022, Gold Coast Health initiated an agreement with an external transport provider (SkyMed) to support the inter-hospital, back transfer and discharge to residence pathways enabling a rapid movement of patients out of the hospitals thus creating acute inpatient capacity.

The CTV model would work in conjunction with the QAS Patient Transfer Service (PTS) in proactively applying smoothing principles to manage discharge flow. 

Gold Coast Health has recognised that there are limitations on the ability to expand existing transfer unit bed platforms at Robina Hospital. With the limitations on the current bed platform, innovative models of care and/or service delivery options need to be considered. 

For the unit to improve efficiencies in service delivery, new models are requied to decrease length of stay and create high turnover to support the demand for discharge services. 

Why your views matter

Your input is valuable to ensure the proposed Patient Shuttle Service meets the needs of our patients and the organisation.