A new Transit Care Hub is now up and running at Mackay Base Hospital.
It’s part of an initiative to further improve patient flow and to provide a better experience for
those who are ready to leave hospital.
The Transit Care Hub (TCH), located on the hospital’s ground floor, is akin to a departure waiting room managed by nursing staff for patients who are ready to head home but may be waiting on
medication, transport or documentation.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Chief Operating Officer Sharon
Walsh, who performed the honours at the official opening, says the TCH
is already proving its worth.
“The Transit Care Hub began accepting patients a month ago, and what we
are seeing even in these early stages is that it is providing a better flow of
patients out of our acute wards and the emergency department, which means
we are freeing up beds for other patients who need our care,” she says.
“On average our patients who are ready to leave us and just need to wait for
medication, or a family member to pick them up, are spending about an hour
and a half in the TCH, and we’re freeing up about 6 hours a day of bed
availability.”
Ms Walsh says the Transit Care Hub was the third patient flow and experience
initiative introduced at Mackay Base Hospital in the past few months.
“We have recently opened our paediatrics Rapid Access Clinic (RAC) to
provide more direct access to care for vulnerable children, and we have also
implemented change in the Emergency Department with the Transfer Initiative
Nurse area to reduce ambulance wait times,” she says.
“We are always seeking to improve our service wherever we can, and every
measure contributes to enhancing patient experiences in our community.”
