Summary
A Rockhampton Hospital service supporting people after surgery is celebrating its first birthday and has provided care to just over 1500 patients in its first year of service.
The Post-Operative Discharge Support Service (PODSS) at Rockhampton Hospital is a nurse-led, telehealth-enabled model designed to enhance post-operative care and reduce unnecessary Emergency Department presentations within 30 days post-surgery. It offers both virtual and in-person support, ensuring continuity of care and early intervention for surgical patients.
Three clinical nurse consultants have made a huge difference to post-operative patients at Rockhampton Hospital.
Of the 1515 patients using this service in the first year, about 1200 have had their concern addressed by the PODSS nurses, and just 120 have been advised to return to the ED.
Clinical Nurse Consultant with PODSS Kristin Dalton says the service has been very well received, with patients grateful for the easy access to post-operative advice.
“We deal with surgeries all day, every day, so we know what is normal and what isn’t, but we recognise that for our patients it’s often their only encounter, so it’s a real asset for them to have a phone number to call to chat about any of their concerns,” she said.
“They can tell us what’s worrying them, what their wound looks like, if they’re not sure what they should be doing next, when their next appointment is, it’s great to be able to put their mind at ease with a quick chat.”
The team is just a phone call away for patients with any concerns post-operatively, including general wound care and infections, pain, or bleeding. The service is available seven days a week. They chat with the patient over the phone, assessing their concern, and advise whether they require access to more specialised care.
If they do need to come to hospital, the PODSS nurses can see the patient in person and have them reviewed by the surgical team when required, without them needing to go to ED. This provides a more personalised and streamlined post-operative experience and has led to optimal patient outcomes.
The team are experienced nurses who use their assessment skills and critical thinking to help patients. Common concerns have been patients after caesarean sections, those with wound queries, post-colonoscopy patients, and people with post-operative pain.
PODSS has continued to expand the service over the past year by first adding a pharmacist to the service and is now taking direct referrals from GPs and Queensland Ambulance. They look forward to further expansion soon.
This service was funded by the Department of Health and coordinated by the Healthcare Improvement Unit.