PMM 58976644

CHAPTER 6 EMERGENCY CARE
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PD/IB/GL
NUMBER
Emergency Department Patients Awaiting Care PD2010_075
Identification of Persons Rendering Treatment to Casualty Patients
Emergency Department - Notification of Specialist or VMO Regarding Patients
Admitted Through the ED
GL2011_003
Triage in NSW Emergency Departments PD2013_047
Emergency Department Direct Admission to Inpatient Wards PD2009_055
Rural Adult Emergency Clinical Guidelines 3
rd
Edition Version 3.1 2012 GL2012_003
Clinical Practices Adult Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations Conducted by
Nurse Examiners
PD2005_614
Domestic Violence - Identifying and Responding PD2006_084
Domestic Violence Mens Behaviour Change Programs IB2014_003
Requests for Urgent Medical Assistance Outside Hospital Precincts
Destruction of Patient Clothing: When Police Action is Likely
Delivery of Hospital Messages by Police
Management of Drug Overdosage
NSW State Trauma SystemPolicy Review 1994
NSW Health Emergency Management Arrangements - NSW Healthplan PD2009_008
IB2010_008
HEALTHPLAN Medical Services Supporting Plan GL2010_011
Mass Casualty Triage Pack SMART Triage Pack PD2011_044
Closed Head Injury in Adults Initial Management PD2012_013
Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Perinatal) PD2010_069
Policy for Emergency Paediatric Referrals PD2005_157
Maternity Emergencies PD2005_161
At Risk Discharge Policy for Emergency Department Patients PD2005_082
Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks & Transfer of Care (Adults) PD2010_021
Automatic Dysreflexia (Hyperreflexia) IB2001/1
Maternity Clinical Care and Resuscitation of the Newborn Infant PD2008_027
Hospital Response To Pandemic Influenza Part 1: Emergency Department
Response
PD2007_048
Public Health Real-Time Emergency Dept Surveillance System(PHREDSS)
Public Health Unit Response
GL2010_009
Retrieval Handover (Adults) PD2012_019

6. EMERGENCY CARE 6.1

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS AWAITING CARE (PD2010_075)

PD2010_075 rescinds PD2005_268.

PURPOSE

This policy directive for Emergency Departments (ED) outlines the procedures and guidelines required to
address the needs of patients and their carers while in ED waiting areas.

NSW Health recognises Emergency Departments are busy clinical environments, and patients are seen
according to clinical urgency. Therefore, following assessment by the Triage Nurse, patients and carers
may experience periods of waiting prior to being seen treated and discharged.

In feedback fromthe NSW Health Patient Survey, ED patients often comment that they were not kept
informed about their wait and that their pain and anxiety could have been better managed during the wait.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

1. Waiting Room Patients
1.1. Signage that clearly directs patients and carers to triage area, reception and the waiting area must be
displayed (GL2009_010 Technical Series 2 - Wayfinding for Health Facilities)
1.2. Patients/carers should be informed, at the time of triage, what to do if their condition changes or they
become concerned while waiting for care, and how the triage system works to prioritise critical care.
The ED Brochure: Welcome to the Emergency Department can assist in informing patients and
carers of what to expect in EDs.
1.3. Patients/Carers may be informed of suitable alternatives to the Emergency Department such as co-
located General Practitioner services, Urgent Care Centres, Aboriginal Medical Services or nearby
Medical Centres.
1.4. Regular communication should be undertaken to keep patients/carers informed of changed waiting
times*
1.5. All waiting patients should be regularly reassessed, particularly if they wait longer than the allotted
triage category time*.

*Points 1.4 1.5 are incorporated in the role scope for the Clinical Initiatives Nurse in departments that
have this position. However, effective communication and patient safety are accountabilities for all
Emergency Department staff.

1.6. Nurse initiated care should be commenced according to ED protocols. Patients and carers must be
informed that their care has been commenced. Information should also be given on when they will
be updated, and what feedback the nurse requires regarding the effectiveness of care delivered (e.g.
was their pain relieved following analgesia?).
1.7. Escalation of care should be undertaken in liaison with the ED Nursing and/or Medical teamleaders
as required. The responsibility of escalation of care rests with the person that identifies the increased
care requirement. Steps taken to escalate care must be clearly documented in the patients medical
record. This includes the date and time and with whom concerns were raised.

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1.8. Patients and Carers should have access to refreshments and toilets while they wait. Signage
directing patients and carers to these facilities must be clearly visible. Any specific clinical
requirements regarding these activities must be clearly explained to the patient, (e.g. nurse to explain
if the patient is to be fasting or instructions given regarding using the toilet in patients with bleeding
in early pregnancy).
1.9. Arrangements must be in place for patients that require assistance with feeding, toileting or other
personal care to contact staff and receive assistance in a timely manner.
1.10. Where clinically appropriate, allocation of patients to alternate models of care such as Fast Track
should be undertaken to reduce waiting times.
1.11. For aboriginal patients, ED staff should be aware if there is an Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) in a
facility position and, if so, the patient and carer should be asked if they would like to request an ALO
visit.

2. Patients Arriving By Ambulance
2.1. The Emergency Department clinicians have responsibility for overall clinical management once the
patient enters the ED; whether to the waiting roomor via the ambulance entrance.
2.2. Local arrangements can be considered to guide the shared care responsibility of patients who may be
held on ambulance trolleys and should reflect the actions outlined in NSW Ambulance Service
SOP2009-066 Delayed Ambulance - Continuation of Care.

3. Patients Who Decide Not To Wait For Treatment
3.1. Signage which informs patients that they should notify the triage staff if they decide to leave while
awaiting treatment must be placed prominently in the ED waiting area (Practical steps to improving
Emergency Department signage guide).
http://internal.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2008/ed_signage.html.
3.2. Patients and carers should be advised verbally, at the time of triage, that they should notify the triage
nurse if they decide to leave the ED while awaiting treatment.
3.3. If a patient decides to leave the ED without treatment the triage staff should consider the patient
safety implications of this decision and discuss themwith the patient, and escalate this to the
clinician in charge of the department as required.
3.4. Documentation regarding patients that leave the ED without treatment should detail as much
information as is available, including the following:
information given to the patient or carer regarding the need to stay for treatment;
advice given regarding alternative or ongoing care;
the name and position of the clinician that concerns were escalated to;
the patients condition on departure;
the time that the patient left;
any action that was taken subsequent to the patient leaving; and
any other relevant information.

IMPLEMENTATION

Emergency Departments are to review current arrangements to ensure they align with the Policy Directive
within 2 months of the issue date.

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ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

Related Policies/guidelines
PD2013_047 Triage of Patients in NSW Emergency Departments
SOP2009-066 Delayed Ambulance - Continuation of Care
GL2009_010 Technical Series 2 - Wayfinding for Health Facilities
Practical steps to improving Emergency Department signage guide
http://internal.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2008/ed_signage.html.
ED Brochure: Welcome to the Emergency Department
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/hospitals/going_to_hospital/ed_brochure_pdf.asp
Communicating Positively A guide to appropriate Aboriginal terminology
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2004/aboriginal_terms.html
PD2012_042 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Origin - Recording of Information of Patients and
Clients http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2012/PD2012_042.html

IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS RENDERING TREATMENT TO CASUALTY PATIENTS

The patients records in the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals should be documented
with the printed name, signature and designation of the member of staff who is involved with giving
treatment so that the responsible person can be readily identified.

It is essential that a record should be kept of the person who administers any anaesthetic or injection, or
who performs any operation for a patient who is admitted for casualty treatment.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT - NOTIFICATION OF SPECIALIST OR VMO REGARDING
PATIENTS ADMITTED THROUGH THE ED (GL2011_003)

PURPOSE

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide advice on the development of hospital mechanisms for the
notification of Specialists or Visiting Medical Officers of patients admitted through the Emergency
Department.

KEY PRINCIPLES

Mechanisms should be in place for the appropriate Visiting Medical Officer or Staff Specialist to be
notified of each hospital admission through the emergency department. The notification should be made by
the rostered medical officer attending to the patient in the emergency department, prior to the end of his or
her shift. In hospitals with specialty registrars, this notification can be made to the appropriate registrar.

All relevant medical practitioners should be educated regarding the need for compliance with the above
guideline.

USE OF THE GUIDELINE

Following the recommendation of the State Coroner, these guidelines should be incorporated into written
hospital policy in relation to the notification of admitting Visiting Medical Officers or Staff Specialists
regarding patients admitting through the emergency department.

The Guideline can be downloaded at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2011/GL2011_003.html
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TRIAGE IN NSW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS (PD2013_047)

PD2013_047 rescinds PD2008_009.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to outline the key components of triage of patients presenting to Emergency
Departments in NSW hospitals including the role, key responsibilities and the processes that support
efficient and safe triage.

This policy does not seek to outline the clinical components of this process; clinical information related to
triage is as indicated by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicines (ACEM) policy
1
and
guideline
2
on triage and the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) Position Statements on
Triage.
3,4

This policy should be read in conjunction with NSW Health Policy PD2010_075 Emergency Department
Patients Awaiting Care


Triage is an essential function of an Emergency Department (ED). Triage (or an alternative local
sorting process by a senior ED clinician) should be the first interaction a patient has in the ED.
ED and hospital processes must support the ability of triage to be carried out within five minutes or
less so as not to delay other patients awaiting triage. This includes limiting the responsibilities and
additional tasks required of the Triage Nurse, where appropriate, so that focus can remain on timely
triage of patients as they enter the ED.
The triage process encompasses a brief clinical assessment of the patient on arrival to the ED to
determine the priority for clinical care. Assignment of triage category reflects the clinical urgency of
the patients condition.
The patients level of urgency is indicated using the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) and the Triage
Nurse determines (in consultation with relevant ED and Ambulance staff if required) the most
appropriate place for the patient to commence or wait for further treatment.
It is recognised that triage is a dynamic process and may require that the patient be re-triaged if their
condition changes or deteriorates prior to being seen by a treating clinician.
The physical location and environment of triage must ensure the safety of staff and patients and
accommodate privacy for the assessment of patients.
The process of Triage involves the application of high-level patient assessment skills and knowledge
to determine the patients degree of urgency to see a treating clinician it is for this reason that
triage in NSW EDs should be carried out by Registered Nurses. It is not appropriate for
clerical/administrative staff to undertake triage. In Hospitals with ED role delineation level 1 & 2,
there may be occasional circumstances where an Enrolled Nurse is the first point of contact for a
patient arriving in the ED. Contingencies for this occurring are described in section 2.5 -Triage
Education.

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1 ACEM Policy on the Australasian Triage Scale http://www.acem.org.au/getattachment/693998d7-94be-4ca7-a0e7-3d74cc9b733f/Policy-on-the-
Australasian-Triage-Scale.aspx
2 ACEM Guidelines on the implementation of the Australasian Triage Scale in Emergency Departments
http://www.acem.org.au/getattachment/b7a3ab0a-c51e-431d-8da8-07a29b8a2c91/G24-Implementation-of-the-Australasian-Triage-Scal.aspx
3 CENA Position Statement: Triage Nurse http://cena.org.au/CENA/Documents/CENATriageNursePSJ uly2009.pdf
4 CENA Position Statement: Triage and the Australasian Triage Scale http://cena.org.au/CENA/Documents/2012_06_14_CENA_-
_Position_Statement_Triage_FinalD2-1.pdf

6. EMERGENCY CARE 6.4.1

Registered Nurses undertaking the triage role must demonstrate and maintain clinical expertise in
emergency nursing and have appropriate training in the triage role; the requirements of which will be
determined locally. Please see section 2.5 Triage Education for further information on expertise in
emergency nursing.

IMPLEMENTATION

Local Health District and Specialty Health Networks are responsible for:
i. Assigning responsibility, personnel and resources to implement this policy.
ii. Establishing mechanisms to ensure that the essential criteria are applied, achieved and sustained as
usual processes for triage; this should include nomination of an executive sponsor.
iii. Ensuring that any local policy reflects the requirements of this policy and is written in consultation
with responsible executive, Clinical Governance unit, ED senior management, and senior clinical
staff.
iv. Providing opportunity for Registered Nurses to complete local triage education programs; ensure
adequate supervision for Registered Nurses learning the triage role and demonstrate local processes
for the ongoing evaluation of triage practice.

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 About this document

Triage is an essential function of an Emergency Department (ED) and must be the first interaction a patient
has in the ED. This Procedure Document supports and further explains the mandatory requirements of the
Triage in NSW Emergency Departments Policy through the following components:
The purpose and role of Triage.
Use of the Australasian Triage Scale.
Re-triage of patients with deteriorating conditions.
Triage location and safety requirements.
Triage education.
Triage of Ambulance patients.
Telephone advice.
Mass Casualty Disaster and Triage.

1.2 Key definitions

For the purpose of the Policy Statement and this Procedures Document, the following definitions apply:

Acuity:
Acuity is a synonym for urgency, and they can be used interchangeably. An acuity-based description
should answer the question: This patient should wait for assessment and treatment by a treating clinician
no longer than..

Australasian Triage Scale (ATS):
The Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) is a 5-point scale that is designed for use in hospital-based emergency
services throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is used to help sort patients by clinical urgency.

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Competency:
Competency refers to the consistent application of knowledge and skill to the standard of performance
required in the workplace. It is also the ability to consistently performwork activities; applying skills and
knowledge; to agreed standards over a range of contexts and conditions.
5

Complexity:
Complexity relates to the difficulty of the presenting problemand the resources involved in finding a
solution to the problem. A low ATS category with a highly complex problemmay consume more
resources and workload than a high urgency but low complexity presentation.

Emergency Triage Education Kit (ETEK):
The Emergency Triage Education Kit (ETEK) is a teaching resource that aims to provide a consistent
approach to the educational preparation of Australian emergency clinicians for the triage role. In particular
the ETEK has been designed to promote the correct use of the ATS. The ETEK can be accessed via:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/casemix-ED-
Triage+Review+Fact+Sheet+Documents

Re-triage:
The process of re-triage involves an assessment of the waiting patient who has not been assessed by a
clinician responsible for care within the time frame allocated by the initial triage category. The purpose of
re-triage is to identify and escalate the care of a patient whose condition is deteriorating, reassign an
appropriate triage category and prioritise clinical resources to manage the patient.

Streaming:
Streaming is a predetermined method of allocating patients to a particular treatment cohort during the triage
process based on specific criteria. Such criteria may include urgency or complexity, age or presenting
problem. Streaming may include allocation to a specific area within the ED, a specific set of resources (eg.
medical and nursing teams) or to a patient service external to the ED (eg. specialty clinic). The practice of
streaming patient presentations fromthe point of triage into appropriate care areas is shown to result in
improvements in waiting times and ED length of stay.

Transfer of Care:
Transfer of Care in this policy refers to the NSW Health key performance indicator of the percentage of
patients arriving by ambulance whose care is transferred fromparamedics to ED staff within 30 minutes of
arrival. Transfer of Care is defined as the transfer of accountability and responsibility for a patient froman
ambulance paramedic to a hospital clinician.

Triage:
Triage is the process of assessment of a patient on arrival to the ED to determine the priority for medical
care based on the clinical urgency of the patients presenting condition. Triage enables prioritisation of
limited resources to obtain the maximumclinical utility for all patients presenting to the ED. The triage
nurse applies an Australasian Triage Scale category in response to the question: This patient should wait
for assessment and treatment by a treating clinician no longer than..

1.3 Legal and legislative framework

Duty of Care

By engaging with a patient as they present to the ED, the Triage Nurse enters into a health professional-
patient relationship. The Triage Nurse shares the responsibility of the hospital to ensure that patients who
present to the ED are offered an appropriate assessment of their urgency of treatment requirements.
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5
http://www.hwa.gov.au/sites/uploads/national-competency-report-final-20120410.pdf.


All nurses should have an understanding of basic legal principles, which include consent, the elements of
negligence, definition and sources of the standards of care, and how policies and guidelines can influence
practice to maximise patient safety. There is an expectation that the Nurse performing the role of triage
will have adequate experience, training and supervision to performthe role. The employing institution also
has a responsibility to ensure that triage staff are adequately prepared to performthe role.

Patients who Did Not Wait for treatment following Triage

Patients may choose to leave the hospital without being seen by the treating clinician in the ED; if the
patient is competent, the Triage Nurse cannot prevent themfromleaving. However, the Triage Nurse has a
responsibility to advise the patient of the consequences of such a decision, and appropriate documentation
recording this event should be completed (see Documentation section below). Issues must be escalated to
the appropriate senior ED clinician in charge of the department as required.

Patients who have a cognitive impairment (e.g. fromdrug use, alcohol use, a head injury, mental illness,
deliriumor patients at risk of suicide or with self-harmideation) are at risk fromadverse events in such
situations. The Triage Nurse must therefore consider their duty of care in such cases. The Triage Nurse
must be aware of and fulfil his or her responsibilities with these patients and abide by any local policies or
protocols. For the purposes of triage, a rapid re-triage and/or escalation to senior ED staff may be
indicated.

Documentation

Medical records are a method of communication for health care teammembers and are a contemporaneous
record of events. They must be accurate, clear and succinct. It is also expected that the records will be
easily accessible and able to be understood
6
.

Minimuminformation that is required to be recorded for any triage episode include the following:
Date and time of triage assessment.
Name of the Triage Nurse.
Presenting problem.
Relevant clinical assessment findings and limited relevant history.
Initial triage category allocated.
Area the patient is allocated or streamed to within the ED.
Diagnostic, first aid or treatment initiated at triage.
Type of visit code.

Any change in the patients condition prior to being seen by the treating clinician must be documented
clearly. If re-triage is required; documentation should include:
The time of re-triage.
Reason for the re-triage.
Information about escalation of the patients change in condition to relevant senior ED staff.

Documentation regarding patients that choose to leave the ED without treatment should detail as much
information as is available, including the following:
Information given to the patient or carer regarding the need to stay for treatment.
Advice given regarding alternative or ongoing care.

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6
NSW Health Policy 2012_069 Health Care Records Documentation and Management available
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2012/PD2012_069.html


The name and position of the clinician that concerns were escalated to.
The patients condition on departure.
The time that the patient left.
Any action that was taken subsequent to the patient leaving.
Any other relevant information.

2. COMPONENTS OF THE TRIAGE PROCESS

2.1 The Purpose and role of Triage

Triage is a critical component in the delivery of emergency care, and is the first point of contact and
assessment in the patients ED journey.
7
The purpose and role of triage is to first identify patients with
life-threatening or emergency conditions and initiate appropriate interventions (eg. emergency first aid as
per local protocols), then second, allocate the patient to an appropriate area or streamwithin the ED.

ED and Hospital processes must support the ability of triage to be carried out within five minutes so as not
to delay other patients awaiting triage. This includes limiting the responsibilities and additional tasks
required of the Triage Nurse, where appropriate, so that focus can remain on timely triage of patients as
they enter the ED.

Triage is used to determine the patients clinical urgency; it is not an indicator of complexity of the
patients condition and should not be used as a substitute for this.

Triage involves rapid patient assessment, interpretation of the clinical history and physiological assessment,
while objectively discriminating between the ATS categories of urgency. Triage decision-making is
inherently complex, made under conditions of uncertainty and with limited or obscure information.

Assessment of clinical urgency is achieved by observation of general appearance, collection of a focused
history to identify presenting problemand clinical risk and collections and interpretation of physiological
data using a primary survey approach.

It is the responsibility of the Triage Nurse to escalate and engage further assistance fromsenior ED clinical
staff where appropriate.

It is recognised that the triage process relates to managing the queue of patients who present for treatment.
Currently this is done consistently by Triage Nurses, however EDs may choose to implement strategies to
manage the queue according to local needs (for example, decision making clinicians seeing patients
immediately on arrival to the ED).

It is important that the Triage Nurse is competent in identifying and promoting cultural safety for patients
that are triaged including access to interpreter services, notification of Aboriginal Liaison Officers where
appropriate and is able to access culturally appropriate information regarding triage and the waiting room
for patients.

Use of the Australasian Triage Scale

In all NSW EDs, emergency nurses performthe triage role using the ATS. The ATS is a five-point scale
used to prioritise patients. An ATS category fromone to five is allocated according to the maximumtime
the Triage Nurse determines the patient can wait for emergency care.
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7
Hodge, A., et al., A review of the quality assurance processes for the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) and implications for future practice.
Australasian Emergency Nursing J ournal, 2013. 16(1): p. 21-29.


The Triage Nurse applies an ATS category in response to the question this patient should wait for
assessment and treatment by a treating clinician no longer than....

ATS Category
Treatment Acuity
(maximum waiting time)
Performance Indicator
Threshold*
ATS 1 Immediate 100%
ATS 2 10 minutes 80%
*Performance Indicator Threshold represents the percentage of patients assigned ATS Category 1 through
to 5 who commence clinical assessment and treatment within the relevant waiting time from their time of
arrival.
8

2.3 Re-triage of patients with deteriorating conditions

It is recognised that triage is a dynamic process and may require that the patient be re-triaged if their
condition changes, deteriorates or additional relevant information is received prior to being seen by a
treating clinician.

Such relevant information may be received via a source such as: interpreters, Drs letter, family members,
past medical records etc.

The process of re-triage involves an assessment of the waiting patient who has not been reviewed by a
clinician responsible for care. The purpose of re-triage is to acknowledge any change in clinical condition
of a patient and assign a relevant triage category. A patient may be assessed as requiring a higher acuity
triage category (due to deterioration).

Documentation is to occur detailing the assessment, application of a new triage category, and necessary
discussions or escalation of the patients condition to a senior ED clinician (Registered Nurse, Medical
Officer, TeamLeader).

Patients and/or carers should be informed at the time of triage what to do if their condition changes or they
become concerned while waiting for care and how the triage systemworks to prioritise care.

All waiting patients should be regularly assessed by either the Triage Nurse or Clinical Initiatives Nurse
(CIN) if available; particularly if the waiting time exceeds the allotted triage category maximumwaiting
time.

2.4 Triage location and safety requirements

The triage environment must provide safety for the public, the Triage Nurse, staff and patients of the ED.
The triage environment must take into account the potential risk of aggressive behaviour of patients or their
relatives.

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8
ACEM Policy on the Australasian Triage Scale http://www.acem.org.au/getattachment/693998d7-94be-4ca7-a0e7-3d74cc9b733f/Policy-on-the-


The environment:
Must be immediately visible and well sign posted.
Must allow for clear visibility of the waiting roomby the Triage Nurse.
Must have access to an area for patient examination and provision of first aid.
Must be designed to maximize the safety of the Triage Nurse, staff and patients (eg. duress alarms,
egress routes for staff exiting the triage roomand access to security personnel).
Should enable and facilitate patient privacy (a private consultation roomis recommended for patient
examination).

2.5 Triage education

It is recognised that triage should be completed by specifically trained and experienced RNs
9
as:

clinical decisions made by triage nurses require complex cognitive process. The
Triage Nurse must demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking in environments
where available data is limited, incomplete or ambiguous.
10

The Registered Nurse must demonstrate clinical expertise in emergency nursing prior to commencing
triage education and training.

The LHD will determine the baseline level of clinical expertise expected of a prospective Triage Nurse;
however, new graduate (transitional) nurses should not be eligible to undertake a triage education program.
The following is recommended as baseline clinical expertise:
11

One-two years full time ED nursing experience (this does not include the New Graduate year).
Successful completion of the NSW Health Transition to Practice, Emergency Nursing Program or
equivalent transitional program.
Completion of the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC)
12

o Between the Flags program
o D.E.T.E.C.T.
o D.E.T.E.C.T. junior
Advanced Life Support accreditation
NSW Health Paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines e-learning package.
13

Local decision making should be applied by ED Nursing Managers, Clinical Nurse Consultants and Nurse
Educators on readiness of nurses to undertake the triage role where appropriate. Local systems should be
in place for Recognition of Prior Learning to ascertain an equivalent level of the development of clinical
expertise.

It is the responsibility of the LHD Executive, the Medical Director of the ED (or equivalent), the Nurse
Manager of the ED (or equivalent) and LHD Nursing Education service to ensure an adequately resourced,
locally relevant, comprehensive triage training and assessment program. It is recommended that the
programshould encompass the following elements:
It should be based on the Emergency Triage Education Kit
14
(ETEK).
It should not teach ETEK in isolation, but use it as part of a training and competency based triage
program.

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9
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (2006) Policy on the Australasian Triage Scale
10
College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (2009) Position Statement Triage Nurse
11
Health Policy Priorities Principle Committee (2011) Australian Triage Process Review
12
Clinical Excellence Commission (2013) Between the Flags
13
NSW Ministry of Health (2010) Paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines e-learning package
14
Australian Department of Health and Aging (2009) Emergency Triage Education Training Kit


It should include information about local procedures, processes and nuances.
It should provide supernumerary support during practical triage training.
It should ensure that novice triage nurses have access to senior medical and nursing staff for support
as they learn the triage role (either in person or via appropriate telecommunications).

At the completion of a triage training program, the Triage Nurse must be able to demonstrate knowledge
and/or competence as follows:
15

Recall the science and practice of triage.
Outline the Australian health care system.
Describe the role of the Triage Nurse.
Apply the ATS.
Relate the legislative requirements and considerations.
Discuss epidemiology and population health.
Demonstrate effective communication skills including use of electronic medical record systems
where appropriate.
Application of the primary and secondary surveys.
Apply and synthesize an assessment and triage decision making process by the following
presentation types:
o Trauma.
o Medical and surgical emergencies.
o Older persons emergencies and deliriumidentification.
o Paediatric emergencies.
o Obstetric and gynaecological emergencies.
o Mental health emergencies and the Mental Health Act 2007.
o Rural and isolated triage practice.
o Environmental emergencies.
Discuss quality and safety in health care and apply it to triage decision making.
Discuss cultural safety issues and ensure cultural competence of triage staf.f

It is recognised that in hospitals with ED role delineation level 1 & 2, there may be occasional
circumstances when an Enrolled Nurse is the first point of contact for a patient arriving in the ED.

For these contingencies, hospitals must:
1. Have clear processes established in order to rapidly notify a registered nurse of the patient's arrival.
2. Note that Registered Nurses are responsible for formal triaging in all circumstances.
3. Establish training for those Enrolled Nurses likely to encounter these circumstances so that they are
equipped to identify high acuity patients.

Ongoing evaluation of performance, updates of clinical practice and professional development must be in
place to ensure currency of knowledge and practice for the role of Triage Nurse.

2.6 Triage of Ambulance patients

Patients arriving to the ED via ambulance will be assessed and triaged as per normal ED triage procedures.

Some LHDs may have local protocols in place for rapid triage/triage bypass of specific clinical groups (e.g.
ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Trauma, Sepsis and Stroke). LHDs are required to ensure that all
triage staff are aware of local protocol agreements relating to the triage of specific clinical groups within
their ED.
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15
Adapted from College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (2009) Position Statement Triage Nurse


Following triage assessment, the Triage Nurse will determine the most appropriate location within the ED
to facilitate transfer of care of patients presenting by ambulance and release of paramedics fromcare of the
patient. This will include allocation of patients to defined clinical areas within the ED or transfer to the
waiting roomwhere appropriate, particularly low acuity and low complexity patients for whomstaying on
the ambulance stretcher is not necessary.

To facilitate Transfer of Care, a clinical handover using a structured approach such as IMIST AMBO,
must occur between the treating Paramedic and accepting ED clinician. Transfer of Care is deemed
complete only when this clinical handover has occurred and the patient has been offloaded fromthe
ambulance stretcher and/or the care of the ambulance paramedics is no longer required.

In the event, that the patient is unable to be offloaded fromthe ambulance stretcher to an appropriate
location within the ED, joint care and monitoring of the patient by ED staff and paramedics will continue
until the patient can be offloaded. Transfer of Care should occur as soon as possible.

2.7 Telephone advice

It is not the role or responsibility of the Triage Nurse to provide clinical telephone advice to the public,
carers and non-health professionals who may telephone the ED in an attempt to seek emergency and other
medical advice.

If the Triage Nurse identifies that a caller is requiring general medical advice they should direct the caller
to phone the National Triage Telephone Advice Line (healthdirect Australia) on 1800 022 222. If the
Triage Nurse identifies that the call may be of an emergency nature, the Triage Nurse should direct the
caller to hang up and phone 000 for assistance. If the Triage Nurse identifies that a caller is ringing about a
mental health problem, they should direct the caller to phone the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 51.

2.8 Mass Casualty Disaster and Triage

This procedure document outlines the process for ED triage under usual circumstances.

Mass casualty triage, while similar, is distinct fromthe triage process that has been described in this
document. During mass casualty incidents, or disasters the triage process may change. This decision will
be made by a hospital disaster controller, or their delegate.
16

LIST OF RELATED DOCUMENTS
1. Australasian College for Emergency Medicine policy on the Australasian Triage Scale available:
http://www.acem.org.au/getattachment/693998d7-94be-4ca7-a0e7-3d74cc9b733f/Policy-on-the-
2. Australasian College for Emergency Medicine guidelines on the implementation of the Australasian
Triage Scale in Emergency Departments available:
http://www.acem.org.au/getattachment/b7a3ab0a-c51e-431d-8da8-07a29b8a2c91/G24-
Implementation-of-the-Australasian-Triage-Scal.aspx
3. College of Emergency Nursing Australasia position statement: Triage Nurse available:
http://cena.org.au/CENA/Documents/CENATriageNursePSJ uly2009.pdf
4. College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Position Statement: Triage and the Australasian Triage
Scale http://cena.org.au/CENA/Documents/2012_06_14_CENA_-_Position_Statement_Triage.pdf

196(12/12/13)
16
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2010/GL2010_011.html


5. Australian Triage Process Review report available:
http://www.ecinsw.com.au/sites/default/files/field/file/Australian%20Triage%20Process%20Review.
pdf
6. Emergency Triage Education Kit available:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/casemix-ED-
Triage+Review+Fact+Sheet+Documents
7. Emergency Department Triage Method available:
http://www.ecinsw.com.au/sites/default/files/field/file/Triage%20Method-Oct%202010-2.pdf
8. NSW Health Emergency Department Models of Care July 2012 available:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2012/pdf/ed_model_of_care_2012.pdf
9. NSW Health Policy PD2005_315 Zero Tolerance Response to Violence in the NSW Health
Workplace available: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/PD/2005/PD2005_315.html
10. NSW Health Policy PD2007_036 Infection Control Policy available:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2007/PD2007_036.html

196(12/12/13)


DIRECT ADMISSION TO INPATIENT WARDS FROM EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
(PD2009_055)

PURPOSE

Timely and efficient handover of clinical care of admitted patients fromthe Emergency Department
medical staff to in-patient medical staff is essential for the safe and effective care of each patient and for
maintaining the effective operation of the Emergency Department. An essential component of this
transition of responsibility for the clinical care of the patient is timely confirmation of acceptance of the
clinical handover by the relevant inpatient clinical team.

This policy directive seeks to avoid delays in the admission of patients fromthe Emergency Department
through the application of a clear local protocol in each hospital. As smaller rural hospital Emergency
Departments do not have full time separate Emergency Department medical staff and are supported by
general practitioners who also care for admitted patients, this policy directive applies to public hospitals
with Emergency Departments designated as level 3 or above.

The key benefit of the development and use of a local protocol is that it provides a prior written agreement
developed locally by clinicians setting out which clinical unit/teamaccepts which patients.

Application of this policy directive will enable a timely and clinically appropriate direct admission of a
patient fromthe Emergency Department where an inpatient clinical teamhas not confirmed acceptance of
the admission of the patient under that teamwithin two hours of the clinical decision that the patient
requires admission to the hospital.


Each hospital must have in place by 31 October 2009 an agreed written local protocol that sets out a
decision framework for the transfer of care of a patient requiring admission fromthe Emergency
Department to an inpatient clinical team/unit.

The key components of the local protocol are set out in Key Components Local Protocol Admission
Decision Framework. Where a hospital already has a local protocol, the protocol should be reviewed to
ensure that it complies with this policy directive.

The local protocol should be reviewed on a six monthly basis and also updated when the clinical service
mix of the hospital materially changes.

IMPLEMENTATION

Chief Executives are to ensure a written local protocol as described in this policy and its associated
documents is in place for all hospitals designated level 3 or above with Emergency Departments.

Local protocols should be developed by a local hospital executive lead governance group with input from
Emergency Department senior medical staff, clinical units/teams and the Medical Staff Council. This
consultative process will ensure that gaps in the draft framework are identified and addressed and that the
requisite clinical engagement and commitment occurs.

KEY COMPONENTS LOCAL PROTOCOL ADMISSION DECISION FRAMEWORK

1. A comprehensive list of clinical conditions for which the hospital is able to provide inpatient care and
the clinical team/unit that primarily provides inpatient care for each listed clinical condition. This list
will be based on the clinical team/unit skill set.
73(12/09)


2. The senior medical staff who are appointed and credentialed to accept admissions in each clinical
team/unit listed.
3. If a hospital does not have the facilities or skills to admit certain patients, this should also be clearly
stated and an appropriate networked hospital identified which will accept such patients.
4. A clearly set out admission process for patients presenting with co-morbidities, undifferentiated
illness or conditions involving more than one clinical discipline (eg. the protocol may set out that a
joint admission should occur).
5. An agreed mechanismfor ongoing review, improvement and further development of the protocol as
issues arise (e.g. a periodic standing agenda itemfor local clinical unit and medical staff council
meetings)
6. A clearly defined dispute resolution process for dealing with unforeseen circumstances with these
circumstances then informing the ongoing review and improvement process. The dispute resolution
process must NOT delay the admission of a patient fromthe Emergency Department and transfer of
care to an inpatient clinical teamin accordance with the protocol.
7. A clear written outline of the agreed admission decision process for patients in the Emergency
Department requiring admission to the hospital. The process should comply with the following
principles.

Emergency Department inpatient admission process principles

8. Following assessment in the Emergency Department, a senior doctor in the Emergency Department
will:
a. decide if the patient requires admission;
b. determine the condition(s) necessitating admission;
c. apply the agreed local protocol to determine the clinical teamunder whose care the patient will
be admitted;
d. request the clinical teamto accept the admission.
9. In situations where there is not agreed acceptance of the admission by the inpatient consultant or
team, discussion should take place at the most senior clinical level possible, preferably consultant
level, based on the agreed local protocol.
10. If the appropriate admitting teamfor the patient is unable to be determined by the above steps in the
required time frame, then the most senior medical officer who has seen the patient will make the
admission decision. In the emergency department the specialist emergency physician would be the
most senior medical officer. If an emergency physician is not on duty, another senior medical officer
(specialist, registrar or CMO) who has seen the patient will make the decision.
11. A reasonable time for conclusion of this decision-making process would be no more than 2 hours
fromthe time of the clinical decision that the patient requires admission.
12. This process must result in a clear decision to admit the patient under a specific consultant or clinical
team. The decision-maker must then notify the admitting team. The admitting teamwill accept the
patient once this decision is made. An inpatient consultant who remains unwilling to accept the
patient after all these steps have been followed may elect to see the patient and having done so, take
personal responsibility for discussing with, and arranging admission under, another consultant.
13. Occasions requiring the most senior doctor to make a contested decision to admit the patient under a
specific consultant or clinical teammust be the subject of a subsequent review at the local hospital
level to determine whether further refinement of the local protocol is required, as part of the ongoing
review, improvement and further development of the local protocol.
73(12/09)


14. Should the patient subsequently require transfer to another clinical unit after admission fromthe
Emergency Department under the local protocol, the clinical teamon call will arrange this. The
local protocol should include prior agreement about processes to expedite the transfer of such
patients between units where

This checklist can be used to review the implementation of this policy directive.

Assessed by: Date of Assessment:
Requirement:
Assessment:
Not commenced In development
Partial
compliance
Full compliance
IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Comprehensive list of clinical conditions
and inpatient teams primarily
responsible for these conditions by
October 31
st
2009

Comments: Not applicable

2. Written Emergency Department
admission decision process in place


3. Regular review process for the local
protocol in place


4. Clearly defined dispute resolution
process in place


73(12/09)
RURAL ADULT EMERGENCY CLINICAL GUIDELINES 3
RD
EDITION VERSION 3.1 2012
(GL2012_003)
GL2012_003 rescinds GL2010_003.
PURPOSE
These guidelines are provided to assist early appropriate clinical management of acute and life threatening
conditions, and to relieve pain and discomfort, for patients at hospitals where medical officers are not
immediately available. The guidelines reflect best clinical practice and have been used extensively across
the state since 2004 to provide clinical support for rural emergency clinicans.
KEY PRINCIPLES
Underpinning these guidelines are the following principles:
A graduated clinical response is required depending on the:
o severity of the presenting emergency condition e.g. the clinical response to patients with mild
to moderately severe asthma is different to that for patients with immediately life threatening
asthma;
o level of training and expertise of the nursing staff who initiate the management of the patient
i.e. Registered Nurses with advanced clinical training will practice more advanced
interventions;
o legal requirements for nurses who initiate treatment and administer medications based on
medication standing orders;
o need for flexibility to respond to input fromsenior clinical staff and medical officers to
accommodate local circumstances;
The guidelines reflect evidence based best clinical practice and expert consensus opinion;
Standardisation of initial clinical management of specific adult conditions; and
Alignment with the principles outlined in the First Line Emergency Care Course (FLECC) for Registered
Nurses. Advanced Clinical Nurses have advanced knowledge and skills; and have been deemed competent
to carry out these advanced roles using contemporary assessment ongoing credentialing processes. Where
an Advanced Clinical Nurse utilises these guidelines:
the designated medical officer will be notified immediately;
standing medication standing orders contained in these guidelines will be reviewed and authorised by
the designated medical officer as soon as possible (within 24 hours); and
the medical officer will countersign the record of administration on the patients medication chart.
A number of appendices and a formulary have been included to complement these guidelines.
NSW Health Pharmaceutical Services Branch has reviewed these guidelines and has indicated that they are
satisfactory for the consideration of the Local Health Districts Drug Committees for approval and
implementation as medication standing orders, in terms of the criteria for standing orders as specified in
NSW Health Policy Directive, PD2013_043 - Medication Handling in NSW Public Health Facilities.
150(12/04/12)


These guidelines should be read in conjunction with NSW Health Policy Directive PD2005_042 -
Guidelines for Hospitals Seeking to Extend the Practice of Health Professionals:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/PD/2005/PD2005_042.html

The Guidelines can be downloaded from

150(12/04/12)
CLINICAL PRACTICES - ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS
CONDUCTED BY NURSE EXAMINERS (PD2005_614)
INTRODUCTION
This policy directive sets out the implementation of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program
for NSW Health. It has been developed with particular reference to the following:
PD2005_607 NSW Health Sexual Assault Policy and Procedures Manual (Adult), 1999 Revised
PD2013_043 Medication Handling in NSW Public Health Facilities
The aims of this model are to:
complement the service already provided by medical practitioners in NSW;
expand the pool of practitioners able to respond to the needs of victims of sexual assault;
respond in a timely manner to the needs of victims of sexual assault, particularly in rural NSW, and;
reduce the need for victims to travel excessive distances for forensic examinations.
AUDIENCE
This policy directive is directed to all staff involved in the clinical management of adult victims of sexual
assault. These include:
Sexual Assault Service Co-ordinators and staff
Medical Practitioners providing sexual assault medical services
Emergency Department staff
Directors of Nursing
Directors of Medical Services
Sexual Health Unit staff
Pharmaceutical Services Branch
RATIONALE
Under interagency agreement, NSW Health has responsibility for the provision of forensic examinations
for victims of sexual assault. To date these examinations have been provided solely by medical
practitioners in association with the network of Sexual Assault Services.
In 2003, the NSW government made a commitment to introduce the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or
SANE model in NSW for adult Sexual Assault Service examinations. This model has been established
successfully in the United States and a number of other countries and enables nurses to performforensic
examinations.
Overseas research and experience indicates that nurses can collect quality evidence and that their evidence
is acceptable to courts. Prosecutors in the US and Canada also strongly support nurse examiners for the
quality of evidence they are able to provide to the courts.
The model is particularly appropriate for NSW where a well-established network of Sexual Assault
Services is able to support such a development and the rural medical workforce issues have lead to delays
in the provision of forensic examinations.
The SANE model was introduced with strong consumer and interagency support including support from
NSW Police and the Adult Sexual Assault Interagency Committee.


Development of the programwas overseen by a Working Group with representation fromrural and
metropolitan Area Health Services (AHSs), the Nursing and Midwifery Office, Centre for Aboriginal
Health and senior sexual assault medical officers. NSW Police and the Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions, the Attorney Generals Department and the Nurses Association were also consulted in the
development of the program.

Crown Solicitors advice was sought specifically in respect of the program, which indicates that there is no
legal impediment to nurses giving expert advice in court cases within the scope of their training, study or
experience.

NSW Health SANEs attend a training course provided by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
Monash University entailing specific, detailed instruction on the nature and scope of their role and
responsibilities, including the level of injury interpretation that they are able to provide. Following the
training courses the nurses undertake supervised practice by medical officers before commencing work as a
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner as part of the local Sexual Assault Service teams.

DEFINITION OF THE PRACTICE AREA

NSW Health has responsibility for the provision of forensic examinations for victims of sexual assault.
These examinations in NSW Health Sexual Assault Services are generally carried out by medical
practitioners in association with the network of Sexual Assault Services. NSW Health is introducing a new
model of practice called Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) by which suitably qualified nurses, will
also provide sexual assault forensic examinations for adult victims of sexual assault.

The practice area for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is articulated in Section 9 of the NSW Health
Sexual Assault Policy and Procedures Manual (Adult), 1999 Revised which must be read in conjunction
with this Policy Directive.

All forensic examinations of victims of sexual assault will be provided as part of the service delivery of
NSW Health Sexual Assault Services and will be conducted within AHS facilities.

Only nurses employed by NSW Health, with recognised qualifications and who have completed the NSW
Health approved training course for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, are eligible to provide this response
to adult victims of sexual assault.

The practice area for a SANE does not include the provision of counselling to victims of sexual assault.
Designated counsellors employed by the Sexual Assault Service provide this function.

DEFINITION OF AN ADULT VICTIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

An adult victimof sexual assault is a person who is 16 years or over who has experienced sexual assault
and attends a NSW Health Sexual Assault Service.

A 14-15 year old adolescent who has experienced sexual assault by someone who is not a caregiver or
relative and who wishes to attend a NSW Health Sexual Assault Adult Sexual Assault Service may also
receive treatment fromthese Services.

ROLE OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER

The duties of a sexual assault nurse examiner are:
Clinically managing and evaluating clients attending NSW Health Sexual Assault Services;
Obtaining relevant health history and history of the sexual assault;
Performing a physical examination;
Interacting with clients in a sensitive and professional manner that promotes informed consent or
informed refusal with regard to collection and/or available treatment options;
Inspecting and evaluating any area of the body of a victimwho is reporting sexual assault as directed
by the NSW Health Sexual Assault Investigation Kit;
Administering/supplying certain medication as authorised by Standing Order;
Collecting forensic evidence using the NSW Health Sexual Assault Investigation Kit;
Documenting the findings by using the NSW Health Adult Sexual Assault Protocol;
Maintaining continuity and secure storage in relation to the collection of forensic evidence;
Providing treatment of certain injuries sustained by clients in the course of the sexual assault:
Liaising with and/or referring to relevant medical services to provide treatment of injuries as required
including assessment for sexually transmitted diseases;
Providing/or referring clients to follow up clinical care in accordance with local service
arrangements;
Preparing an expert certificate according to the NSW Health format as required for any court matter
related to the clients presentation to the Sexual Assault Service;
Liaising with a designated medical officer in the preparation of a supplementary expert certificate, if
required, for any court matter related the clients presentation to Sexual Assault Service;
Providing evidence in court as required, within the scope of the nurses expertise based on training
and experience;
CRITERIA FOR ENTRY INTO THE NSW HEALTH SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER
PROGRAM
Selection criteria to train as a SANE are:
Employment by a NSW Area Health Service
Registration as a nurse with the Nurses and Midwifery Board
5 or more years clinical nursing experience
Postgraduate qualification in midwifery, sexual health, venereology or family planning
50 or more vaginal examinations conducted
Interest in working in the area of sexual assault
Competence to respond sensitively to people who have experienced serious trauma
Willingness to attend one week training in Sydney and if necessary an additional week placement
Willingness to undergo formal assessment and supervision
Ability to respond to sexual assault examinations in a timely manner and organise workload
accordingly
Ability to be flexible and be placed on a 24hr on-call roster
Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
Capacity to maintain a victim oriented perspective as it relates to sexual assault and other trauma
Completion of the minimumChild Protection core training requirements within Area Health Service
Understanding of health workers duty to report children at risk of harmto the Department of
Community Services
Support fromthe Area Health Service to undertake SANE training and participate in the provision of
sexual assault forensic examinations in conjunction with Sexual Assault Services within the Area
Health Service.
ORIENTATION, TRAINING, ASSESSMENT AND SIGN OFF PROCESS
Trainees will undertake orientation within their local Sexual Assault Service prior to attending the
approved NSW Health training course.
Trainees will attend the NSW Health approved training course for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners that
includes 40 hours face to face training and successfully complete assessment tasks in order to be signed off
by the Department of Health as having qualified to practice within NSW Health.
Assessment tasks include clinical components of witnessing and performing, under the observation of an
experienced forensic examiner, a specified number of examinations within 12 months of attending the
training programand preparation of related reports. Other assessment tasks will include undertaking visits
to court, their local Police and Sexual Health Service.
To facilitate trainees, particularly those fromrural areas, completing the required number of examinations
within the timeframe a one week placement may be undertaken within larger Sexual Assault Services to
undertake all or some of these examinations. Nurses undertaking clinical placements within their own or
another Area Health Service as part of their training to become a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner are
covered for Workers Compensation and Professional/Public Liability insurance by the NSW Treasury
Managed Fund.
Trainees will submit a work log to the Victorian Institute for Forensic Medicine for ratification. This needs
to be done within 12 months of the trainee completing the training course.
The work log will contain proof of participation in orientation to the local Sexual Assault Service,
attendance at the training course, observers template for 3 examinations performed by the Trainee and the
final drafts of 3 Expert Certificates prepared for 3 of the examinations performed by the trainee SANE.
AHS will facilitate nurse examiners participation in ongoing training related to the provision of clinical
management and forensic examination of victims of sexual assault such as attendance at courses offered by
the NSW Health Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV).
AVAILABILITY AND PAYMENT
To practice in NSW Health services, the nurse examiner must have approval fromtheir line management to
secure leave fromperforming other duties including participating in after hours on call rosters to provide
this service. They need to be available to complete the forensic examination as soon as is practicable
following the presentation of a victimof recent sexual assault.
Sexual assault forensic examinations must be conducted as soon as is practical, but within two hours, of
request by the counsellor and without interruption.
Nurse examiners will need to prepare Expert Certificates or other reports related to the clients presentation
at the Sexual Assault Service. It is the responsibility of nurses line management to organise rosters that
create availability to enable the nurse examiner to complete these reports as required.
It is the responsibility of Area Health Services to provide payment and conditions for nurse examiners in
accordance with existing awards and/or local on call arrangements.
It is the responsibility of the nurse examiners line management to ensure that a nurse examiner is available
to attend at court if required in relation to their examination of clients seen in the Sexual Assault Service.
RESPONDING TO A VICTIM OF RECENT SEXUAL ASSAULT
Reponses to victims by SANEs will accord with NSW Health Sexual Assault Services Policy and
Procedure Manual (Adult), Revised in particular Section 9 Medical Assessment and Management.
Area Health Services will ensure that 24 hour crisis counselling is available to the victim of a recent sexual
assault within two hours of their presentation to a NSW Health service. This is stipulated in the NSW
Health Sexual Assault Services Policy and Procedures (1999) and this will be provided in accordance with
the minimumstandards for an afterhours service involving:
A coordinated roster of specifically trained and supervised on-call counsellors;
A coordinated roster of specifically trained and supervised on-call sexual assault forensic examiners;
Availability to respond to a clients presentation at Sexual Assault Service as soon as possible and
within 2 hours of request by the counsellor;
Availability to provide sexual assault forensic clinical assessment to a client without interruption.
ADMINISTER AND/OR SUPPLY MEDICATION
Nurse examiners will administer and/or supply the following medications as indicated to clients attending
NSW Health Sexual Assault Services on the basis of Standing Orders endorsed by the relevant Area
Health Service Drug Committee in accordance with Medication Handling in NSW Public Health Facilities
(PD2013_043):
Postinor 2 - emergency contraception
Maxolon (Metochlopramide) - anti emetic
Azithromycin - for Chlamydia
Hep B Vaccine - Hepatitis B Virus
The nurse examiner will assess the risk that the client may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted
disease in accordance with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Management of Non-Occupational
Exposure (PD2006_005). These guidelines contain risk assessment guidelines, counselling and post-
exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimes for HIV and Hepatitis B.
HIV-related PEP should only be commenced after consultation with a medical practitioner with expertise in
HIV medicine. HIV-related PEP may only be prescribed by medical practitioners attached to HIV
specialist services and other authorised medical practitioners, such as sexual health physicians and some
general practitioners in each Area Health Service. In this situation the nurse examiner should consult with
the designated Sexual Assault Medical Officer for the Sexual Assault Service and/or Emergency
Department medical staff.
PROVISION OF TREATMENT FOR INJURY
In all circumstances clients presenting to NSW Health Sexual Assault Services will undergo assessment for
injury by the Emergency Department triage nurse. This must be expedited so that the Sexual Assault
Service interview with the client is not delayed and they are not required to wait for any period in the
Emergency Department waiting room.
In line with section 9.2 of the NSW Health Sexual Assault Services Policy and Procedure Manual (Adult),
Revised the sexual assault forensic clinical assessment will be conducted as soon as possible unless urgent
medical attention is required.
In relation to the treatment of injuries sustained by clients in the course of the sexual assault, a SANE may
provide treatment for superficial injury to the body or ano-genital area. This is limited to the treatment of
contusions and abrasions.
For the treatment of any deeper ano-genital injury such as lacerations or incised wounds, or injuries
requiring suturing, a referral will be made to Emergency Department medical staff or other identified
medical officer available to the Sexual Assault Service


For the removal of any objects where there has been penetration, or suspicion of penetration by a foreign
body to the ano-genital cavities a referral will be made to Emergency Department medical staff.

The nurse examiner will document referrals made to the Emergency Department in relation to the treatment
of any injuries in the clients general medical record in accordance with local procedures.

PROVISION OF EXPERT CERTIFICATES DURING TRAINING PERIOD

During their training period, trainees will be restricted fromproviding an opinion statement within their
Expert Certificate for any sexual assault forensic examination that they perform. They will confine their
Expert Certificates to the documentation of the background and account of the sexual assault, the
examination findings and specimens taken. In general it would be anticipated that a nurse examiner would
not give opinion evidence until they reach a sufficient level of clinical competency to do so.

Trainees will use a modified template for Expert Certificates that limits these certificates to the areas listed
above during their training period.

SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS

Nurse examiners will be provided with support from:
Sexual Assault Service Coordinators
Designated Medical Officer within the Area Health Service
EAPs (Employee Assistance Program)

In each Area Health Service, there will be a designated Medical Officer for the Sexual Assault Service to
provide clinical review and support to a SANE. Where this is not available, arrangements must be put in
place so that an identified Medical Officer fromanother Area Health Service is contactable.

It is the responsibility of the Sexual Assault Service Coordinator in conjunction with the designated
Medical Officer to ensure that the SANE has access to ongoing clinical supervision, consultation, peer
review and networking.

APPEARANCE IN COURT

Area Health Services will ensure SANEs are supported by their line management to be available to attend
at court as required in relation to the examination of clients seen in the Sexual Assault Service. This
includes participating in any pre-hearing conferences with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
in relation to the evidence they may provide in the matter.

The attendance by nurse examiners at court to give evidence in any court matters related to their
examination of clients seen in the Sexual Assault Service will be considered as being on duty. This is in
accordance with NSW Health guidelines for staff attending court in the course of their employment.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING (PD2006_084)

The Policy and Procedures for Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence (2003)
http://internal.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/p/pdf/procedures_dom_violence.pdf provides a framework for
informing domestic violence responses for staff in hospitals and community health services. This
documents child protection focus has been improved by amendments as detailed below.

It is important to note the inclusion of the following additional text in section 3.1 Identification of domestic
violence (page 9), procedures section after the paragraph commencing Ask about safety:


Ask about child safety:
Do you have children? (If so) have they been hurt or witnessed violence?
Who is/are your child/ren with now? Where are they?
Are you worried about your child/rens safety?

Health workers must make a report to the Department of Community Services Helpline on 133 627
where he or she has reasonable grounds to suspect a child is at risk of harm.

Procedures in Section 3.2.2, Counselling interventions with victims (page 13) have also been amended by
deleting and replacing dot point six under Assess safety with the following text:

Are there children involved? Who is/are your child/ren with now? Are they safe? Was/were your
child/ren nearby when your partner was violent to you? Health workers must make a report to the
Department of Community Services Helpline on 133 627 where he or she has reasonable grounds to
suspect a child is at risk of harm (refer to Section 4.5 Children and domestic violence)

It is recommended that any hard copies of the document Policy and Procedures for Identifying and
Responding to Domestic Violence (2003) in circulation also be amended accordingly.

Living with domestic violence has a serious impact on short- and long-termpsychological, emotional and
physical health of victims and their children. The aimis to help reduce the incidence of domestic violence
through the provision of primary and secondary prevention health care services, and to minimise the trauma
that people living with domestic violence experience, through tertiary prevention approaches including
ongoing treatment and follow-up counselling.

The termdomestic violence is used to refer to abuse and violence between adults who are partners or
former partners. NSW Health has existing policies and strategies that address other forms of violence that
are commonly experienced. Health workers may find this policy can provide guidance in responding to
situations where similar dynamics occur, in particular the section on legal responses for domestic violence.

The policy and procedures were developed by the NSW Department of Health in consultation with Area
Health Services, interagency partners and non-government organisations.

A core component of the policy is routine screening for domestic violence, which is to be implemented for
women attending antenatal and early childhood health services and women aged 16 years and over
attending mental health and alcohol and other drugs services in accordance with the policy. Routine
screening for domestic violence in NSW Health: an implementation package provides the screening
protocol, guide for managers and the learning program:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publications/Pages/domestic_violence_routine_screening.aspx

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MENS BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PROGRAMS (IB2014_003)

PURPOSE

To provide information about Mens Domestic Violence Behaviour Change Programs.

This information should be read in conjunction with the Policy and Procedures for Identifying and
Responding to Domestic Violence PD2006_084. Where the information differs, the information in this
bulletin applies.

200(30/01/14)


The Policy and Procedures for Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence are being reviewed in
2013 and the advice in this Information Bulletin will be incorporated into any new Policy Directive.

KEY INFORMATION

In NSW, there are a range of mens domestic violence behaviour change programs, provided by
Government and non-government services. These are provided in custodial settings, by welfare groups and
by counselling services, and are a valuable service to men seeking to change their abusive behaviour.

The NSW Government has introduced minimumstandards for mens domestic and family violence
behaviour change programs. The standards will significantly improve the safety of victims of domestic
violence and assist those attending programs to stop the violent behaviour. The minimumstandards aimto
reflect good practice, and foster programs that are safe and effective in changing behaviour.

The standards apply to all group programs for male perpetrators of domestic and family violence in NSW.
This includes programs run by government agencies, including NSW Health agencies. It also includes
programs run by non-government agencies.

NSW Health responsibilities

The minimumstandards are NSW Government policy, and the Director General has signed a formal
agreement with the Department of Attorney General and J ustice to implement the minimumstandards. To
comply:
NSW Health staff should only refer patients/clients to complying programs listed at
http://www.domesticviolence.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/;
Where any NSW Health agency provides funding to Mens Behaviour Change Programs, any new or
revised funding agreement should require compliance with the minimumstandards;
Where any NSW Health agency provides funding to relevant community services, new or revised
funding agreements should include a clause requiring those NGO staff to refer clients/patients only
to programs complying with the MinimumStandards. These services may include Aboriginal
Medical Services, Womens Health Centres, multicultural services, Family Planning services,
Lifeline, mental health & drug and alcohol services, health services for the homeless, youth services,
and victimsupport services;
NSW Health staff with concerns or complaints about programs, should report this directly to the
Domestic and Family Violence Unit, Crime Prevention Division, Department of Attorney General
and J ustice at http://www.domesticviolence.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/ or 02 8688 3277.

The Principles and Minimum Standards

1. Principle: The safety of women and children must be given the highest priority.
1.1. Standard: Programproviders will develop and operate fromwritten procedures that address
risks to women and children.
1.2. Standard: Programproviders will ensure that current partners of programparticipants are
provided with support prior to and during the program.
1.3. Standard: Partner support workers will prepare women for the participation of their partners
in the behaviour change group program.
1.4. Standard: Partner support workers will complete individual risk assessments and safety plans.
1.5. Standard: The contact worker is to disclose to women any new expressed or perceived threat
to their safety.
1.6. Standard: Where women and children express an interest in having ongoing contact froma
partner support worker, additional contact will occur for the duration of the program.
200(30/01/14)


1.7. Standard: Group facilitators and partner support workers will have approach knowledge and
training about the impact of domestic and family violence on women and children.
1.8. Standard: Partner support workers must have relevant knowledge, training and experience to
enable themto support and advocate for women and children.

2. Principle: Victimsafety and offender accountability are best achieved through an integrated,
systemic response that ensure that all relevant agencies work together.
2.1. Standard: To ensure programtransparency, accountability and integration programproviders
will develop a formal relationship with relevant local agencies.

3. Principle: Challenging domestic and family violence requires a sustained commitment to
professional and evidence-based practice.
3.1. Standard: Group facilitators must have relevant knowledge and training.
3.2. Standard: All programs will have a minimumof two group facilitators.
3.3. Standard: Group facilitators must undertake supervision.
3.4. Standard: Programproviders will develop policies to ensure that group facilitators undertake
ongoing professional development.
3.5. Standard: Behaviour Change Group Programs will have a duration of at least 24 hours over
12 weeks.
3.6. Standard: Programproviders will complete an operational review of each programfocussing
on process and content.
3.7. Standard: Programproviders will evaluate the impact of programs on the behaviour and
attitude of group participants.
3.8. Standard: Programproviders will contribute to an evidence base for behaviour change
programs.

4. Principle: Perpetrators of domestic and family violence must be held accountable for their
behaviour.
4.1. Standard: Programs must be grounded in an evidence-based theory of change.
4.2. Standard: Programproviders will document and implement thorough participant assessment
procedures.
4.3. Standard: Programprovider will have procedures for engaging participants which challenge
themto acknowledge their abusive behaviour.
4.4. Standard: Programcontent will include explicit information about the impact of domestic and
family violence on women and children and womens disproportionate experience of domestic
violence.
4.5. Standard: Programcontent will include information on different forms of domestic and
family violence and provide opportunities for participants to come to an understanding about
the nature of their offending behaviour.
4.6. Standard: Programproviders will develop procedures for non-attendance of mandated
participants.
4.7. Standard: Programproviders will have procedures for group facilitators to prevent their
implicit or explicit collusion with participants attitude that support violence against women.
4.8. Standard: Programproviders will offer appropriate referrals to meet participants additional
needs.
4.9. Standard: Programproviders must comply with the requirements of a referring agency for a
report on the participants completion of a program.

5. Principle: Programs should respond to the diverse needs of the participants and partners.
5.1. Standard: Programfacilitators must undertake training to ensure culturally competent
practice.
5.2. Standard: Programs addressing other forms of family violence will be specific to the
participants needs.
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Further information can be found at http://www.domesticviolence.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/.

To view the MinimumStandards for Mens Domestic Violence Behaviour Change Programs on the
Attorney General and J ustice website go to
http://www.domesticviolence.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/domesticviolence/minimum_standards_mdvbcp.html,c=y

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REQUESTS FOR URGENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE HOSPITAL PRECINCTS

It is not the normal function of a hospital to provide medical services outside its precincts. There are
local medical practitioners, nurses and ambulances, etc., available for the purpose. However, when a
casualty occurs in very close proximity to a hospital a request may well be received by the hospital to
make a doctor available.

Hospitals employing full-time medical staff, if they have not already done so, are requested to
consider the adoption of an appropriate code of procedures to deal with such situations. Normally
resident medical officers should confine their activities to the work of the hospital, and they should be
required only to leave their hospital duties to cope with what would appear to be life saving missions.

Whilst it is extremely difficult to define the precise action which should be taken in any particular
case, it is suggested that one of the principles which should be observed is that all hospital staff be
instructed that, in the event of the hospital receiving a request to provide medical assistance outside
the precincts of the hospital, such request should in all circumstances be referred to the Medical
Superintendent and/or the Senior Resident Medical Officer on duty at that particular time. It is the
responsibility of that Medical Officer to decide, in the light of the information made available to him,
whether a medical officer should proceed to the site of the accident.

It is suggested also that there should be always available an emergency kit similar to that which would
be carried by a doctor in private practice.

DESTRUCTION OF PATIENT CLOTHING: WHEN POLICE ACTION IS LIKELY

The Police Department has asked that hospitals refrain fromdestroying clothing which may require
Police action particularly blood-stained clothing, of patients who have been brought to hospital. The
destruction of such clothing before it has been inspected by a responsible Police Officer may hamper
the Police in their investigations.

DELIVERY OF HOSPITAL MESSAGES BY POLICE

The Police Force should be asked to convey messages only in cases of emergency.

Should there be any need to convey messages for any other purpose, such requests should be handled
by correspondence or telegram.

MANAGEMENT OF DRUG OVERDOSAGE

The emptying of the stomach, whether by induced emesis or lavage is a potentially dangerous
procedure, with a morbidity and mortality of its own.

It should never be done in overdosage with those drugs which are so innocuous that overdosage with
themis never serious, e.g., diazepam(Valium), chlordiazepoxide (librium), meprobamate (equanil,
miltown), nitrazepam(mogadon).

Some attempts should be made to retrieve the following drugs which are especially toxic, and tend to
remain in the stomach for long periods, e.g., aspirin, tricyclic antidepressants, cardiac glycosides, iron
tablets, unless it can be conclusively known that the quantities ingested were insignificant.

Other drugs occupy an intermediate position, and the decision to seek their retrieval fromthe stomach
will depend on state of consciousness of the patient, the length of time since ingestion, and the dose
taken.


The method chosen (induced emesis or lavage), as well as the decision to attempt to empty the
stomach should be made in consultation with a senior member of the hospital medical staff or with an
anaesthetist.

If lavage is to be done, it should be carried out in the presence of two medical officers, one of whom
should be a person skilled in airway management, and competent to intubate the larynx should the
need arise.

Neither lavage nor induced emesis should be carried out on an unconscious patient unless the airway
is protected by a cuffed endotracheal tube.

TECHNIQUE OF LAVAGE
- Posture patient right side UP.
- Pass well-lubricated size 27 FG gastric tube via nose (for preference) or mouth.
- Confirmpresence in stomach by aspiration.
- Inject 100 ml. WATER by means of 50 ml. bladder syringe and aspirate immediately.
- Continue until returns are clear.
- Lavage must cease if 250 ml. has been retained in stomach.
- Position of tube should be re-checked if vomiting occurs.
- All washing should be saved and sent for quantitative estimation.

PRECAUTIONS ON INDUCING EMESIS
- Large volumes of fluid should NEVER be given to induce emesis.
- Saline emetics are especially dangerous due to the likelihood of hypernatraemia.
- Syrup on ipecacuanha may be effective BUT ipecacuanha is itself a depressant.
- Apomorphine is always effective. If used, it should be diluted (6 mgmin 10 ml.) and
administered slowly. IV Vomiting should occur in 45-60 secs.*
- Mechanical stimulation of pharynx with a plastic or rubber tube of large size is safest of all.

* Itself a depressant, the danger of apomorphine is that unconsciousness may ensue with the
patient still vomiting.

GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL OFFICERS

(a) See the patient as soon as possible after being notified.
(b) Make an immediate assessment of:
the airway
adequacy of respiration
adequacy of circulation
(c) If the airway is compromised, this must be attended to first, but the simple measures of posture,
manipulation of the jaw, or a pharyngeal (Guedel) airway should be tried before resorting to
intubation.
(d) If respiration is depressed and/or colour is poor, oxygen via a bag, mask and valve (such as is
used in ECT) should be used to assist respiration. Failing this apparatus, an Air-Viva is a
satisfactory substitute.
(e) If the patient is unconscious, commence an intravenous infusion, with 1000 ml. of Hartmanns
solution to be given over 4 hours, or more rapidly if hypotension is present.
(f) Instruct the nursing staff on the observations to be carried out, and state clearly the criteria for
themto notify the duty medical officer (changes in depth of coma, blood pressure, and so on).
(g) Consult with the Staff Physician if available, or the Anaesthetist on call by telephone.


(h) DO NOT attempt to empty the stomach, by induced emesis or lavage, until this consultation
has taken place.
(i) Take steps to notify the administration of the hospital when all the clinical requirements
affecting the patients safety have been seen to. For your own and the hospitals medico-legal
protection this is important.

GUIDELINES FOR NURSING

(a) Notify the Duty Medical Officer at once.
(b) If the patient is still conscious, try to produce vomiting by mechanical stimulation of the
pharynx (finger or rubber tube in back of throat).
(c) Try to ascertain the nature and quantity of the tablets taken.
(d) Put the patient to bed. If unconscious, posture in semi-prone position.
(e) Assemble emergency equipment at or near bedside, viz.
Suction Apparatus airways
Oxygen endotracheal equipment Intravenous
Requirement blood pressure machine
(f) Thoroughly search the patients surroundings and personal possessions for more tablets which
may have been secreted.

(g) Commence observation chart and note the following every 15 minutes:
State of consciousness
Colour
Pulse
BP
Respiration (depth and regularity - rate is not important)
Chart temperature hourly
(h) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE ANYTHING BY MOUTH. SALINE EMETICS
ARE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS.

SELECTED SPECIALTY AND STATEWIDE SERVICE PLANS: NSW TRAUMA
SERVICES - 2009

The NSW Trauma Services Plan is founded on an inclusive trauma systemthat assures access for
trauma patients consistent with the availability and effective use of health care resources, and clearly
identifies the components of a systemdesigned to meet the needs of all injured patients.

The new trauma service model aims to strengthen the overall management of trauma in NSW,
including injury prevention, clinical services, rehabilitation, quality improvement and education and
research, and provide a sustainable systemto respond to major trauma.

Please go to http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2009/pdf/trauma_report.pdf


NSW HEALTHPLAN (PD2009_008) (IB2010_008)

NSW HEALTHPLAN was reviewed in 2007 with minor amendments approved by the State Emergency
Management Committee in December 2007. It supersedes the 2005 version of the plan.

NSW HEALTHPLAN identifies the arrangements to be adopted by the NSW Department of Health to
coordinate a whole of health response in the event of an emergency.

NSW HEALTHPLAN is the NSW Health Services Functional Area Supporting Plan to the State Disaster Plan
(Displan) developed pursuant to the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (as amended). NSW
HEALTHPLAN provides for five major contributing health service components (Medical Services, Ambulance
Services, Mental Health Services, Public Health Services and Health Communications), which constitutes the
whole of health response incorporating an all-hazards approach. The plan outlines the agreed roles and
functions for each of the five components of Health.

The paramount position holder concerning health emergency operations is the State Health Services Functional
Area Coordinator (State HSFAC) who is contactable 24 hours a day through the Ambulance Service of NSW.
NSW Health will be the combat agency for all health emergencies within NSW and NSW HEALTHPLAN will
provide policy direction for the preparation of the Area and local level HEALTHPLAN.

The HEALTHPLAN can be accessed at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2009/PD2009_008.html

MEDICAL SERVICES SUPPORTING PLAN (GL2010_011)

PURPOSE

The above plan is the NSW Health Medical Services Supporting Plan to the NSW Health Services Functional
Area Disaster Plan (NSW HEALTHPLAN) developed pursuant to the State Emergency and Rescue
Management Act 1989 (as amended).

This plan identifies the emergency management arrangements necessary for the coordination of medical services
at State level when HEALTHPLAN is activated.

The arrangements in this plan will also provide guidance for the preparation of the AHS medical services
component of the Area HEALTHPLAN.

KEY PRINCIPLES

The plan outlines the agreed roles and functions for the medical services component of NSW Health being one
of the five major contributing health service components that constitutes a whole of health response
incorporating an all hazards approach.

The plan identifies recommended actions under four phases: Prevention, Preparation, Response and Recovery.
Actions under the Prevention and Preparation phases are recommended to be carried out on a continual basis.
Actions under the Response and Recovery phases are recommended to be carried out once the Medical Services
Supporting Plan has been activated by the State Health Services Functional Area Coordinator (HSFAC).

The primary role for medical services in the response phase will be to manage multiple casualties and potential
casualties using central coordination to ensure the provision of definitive care as rapidly as possible.


Responsibilities of key parties are detailed in Part Two of the Medical Services Supporting Plan. The plan
should be communicated to those with roles and responsibilities under this plan and the HEALTHPLAN.

To access the document please go to http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2010/GL2010_011.html

102(02/09/10)


MASS CASUALTY TRIAGE PACK SMART TRIAGE PACK (PD2011_044)

PURPOSE

This policy specifies the use of Mass Casualty Triage Pack - SMART Triage Pack in a mass casualty
situation to denote the priority for treatment under the Medical Service Supporting Plan (GL2010_011).


This policy sets the requirements of the use of the SMART Triage Pack for casualty triage process,
documentation in the field and when patients are immediately transported to hospital. The SMART Triage
Tags become part of the patients medical records.

In Local Health Districts, the SMART Triage Packs are to be stored and formed part of the Health
Response TeamMedical Equipment list requirement (PD2009_080).

In Ambulance Services of NSW, the SMART Triage Packs are to be stored in the Ambulance vehicles for
first responders use in mass casualty incident.

IMPLEMENTATION

This policy will be implemented across Local Health Districts and Ambulance Services of NSW in 2011.

In Ambulance Services of NSW, SMART Triage Packs are currently held in supervisors and Special
Operations Teamresponder vehicles across the State.

In Local Health Districts, each Health Response TeamMedical Equipment Kit requires two Mass Casualty
Triage Packs. Ambulance Service of NSW has purchased one Smart Triage Pack and additional SMART
triage Tags for each Health Response TeamEquipment Kit in Local Health Districts. Local Health
Districts will be responsible to replace all old triage labels by the 31
st
December 2011 and for future
replacement.

Local Health Districts

Local Health Districts are responsible for:
implementation of this policy and replacement of the remaining old triage labels in the Health
Response TeamEquipment Kit at the hospital locations within their district by 31 December 2011;
ensuring that the policy is brought to the attention of staff who are responsible for maintenance,
storing and management of the SMART Triage Packs for the Health Response TeamEquipment Kit;
future replacement of the SMART Triage Pack items.

Ambulance Services of NSW

Ambulance Services of NSW is responsible for:
implementation of this policy and progress the replacement of the remaining old triage labels in
accordance of the services budget allocation;
ensuring that the policy is brought to the attention of staff who are responsible for maintenance,
storing, management and use of the SMART Triage Pack;
future replacement of the SMART Triage Pack items.

130(07/07/11)


Vel cro
attachment
fits any duty
belt
Tools f or
rapid
effective
triage
Triage Pack
Red col our f or
Ambulance
Services and
Green colour
for Healt h
Response
Team
Easy access to
cont ent s
NSW Health Counter Disaster Unit

NSW Health Counter Disaster Unit is responsible for:
the development of this policy incorporating the new national Triage Tags
the review and update this policy every 3 years or if any request is made to NSW Health Counter
Disaster Unit following a mass casualty incident

5. BACKGROUND

1.1 Triage Process

Triage was first introduced in military context as a systemof sorting the casualties for medical treatment in
the field. In recent decades, the triage concept has been adopted and implemented in the disaster medical
management and emergency departments.

In the context of medical management in a mass casualty situation, the aims of triage are not only to deliver
the right patient to the right place for optimal treatment, but also to do the greatest good for greatest
number with the valuable medical resources at the scene which should not be diverted to treating an
irrecoverable condition.

1.2 Australian Standard Mass Casualty Triage Labels (Tags)

In early 2010, the SMART Triage Tags were approved as an Australian standard mass casualty triage label
by the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) following consultation with jurisdictional Health
Departments.

The SMART Triage Tags provide a standard tool for mass casualty triage process for both Health Response
Teams and Ambulance Services in a mass casualty incident. These tags also provide, for the first time, a
national consistency for mass casualty triage tags across Australia allows inter-operability.

The SMART Triage Tags meet worlds best practice and have been tested and evaluated for Australian
conditions. The systemwas used during major incidents including the 2005 London bombings.

6. SMART Triage Pack

The SMART Triage Pack (Red colour for Ambulance Services and Green colour for Health Response
Team) consists of:

SMART Triage Tags
Triage Sieve and Casualty Count Chart
Paediatric SMART Tape
CBR Tag
Light stick and pencils

Photo source: SMART TAG
TM

130(07/07/11)


2.1 SMART Triage Tag

The Mass Casualty Triage Tag (SMART Triage Tag) is an interchangeable triage tag that enables field
documentation. The tag is durable, waterproof and can be written on when the tag is wet.

Each Mass Triage Tag has an individual barcode and unique identifier number. The unique identifier
number should be recorded in all patient documentation. Each SMART Triage Tag also has a plastic bag
with main pocket for Triage Tag and small front pocket to store CBR Tag.

The SMART Triage Tag has a prominent priority numbering and matching colour system2 on the tag
(Table 1). A separate Black colour triage tag is used for deceased persons.

The SMART Triage Tag has a prominent priority numbering and matching colour system
13
on the tag
(Table 1). A separate Black colour triage tag is used for deceased persons.

Table 1 Mass Casualty Triage Colour and Priority Description
Colour Number Priority Description
RED 1 First (Immediate) Priority Casualties who require immediate life saving procedures.
YELLOW 2 Second Priority (Urgent) Casualties who require definitive treatment within four to six hours.
GREEN 3 Third (Delayed) Priority Less serious casualties who do not require treatment within the above times.
BLACK *Dead Category Deceased persons can be declared dead by an Ambulance Officer or a nurse.
However, deceased persons must be certified as dead, by a registered medical
practitioner. These are labelled and left undisturbed, in situ, and Police
Forensic Services Group notified (note responsibility of the Institute of
Forensic Medicine in mass casualty incidents).

130(07/07/11)
2
The blue colour corner of the SMART Triage Tag is referred as fourth priority (Expectant). The Expectant priority refers to casualty whose
condition is so severe that they cannot survive despite the best available care and whose treatment would divert medical resources fromsalvageable
patient who may then be compromised. This category (Blue Expectant priority) is not used in NSW; however it is used in some jurisdictions in
Australia.


While there is no longer a need to use multiple triage tags to reflect patients changes in condition and
priorities. The SMART Tag provides documentation for recording patient changes in condition. For
example Total score 10 or less is equal to Priority 1. The time of condition changes should be recorded
using 24hours time recording method.

Before the patient is transferred to definitive health care facility, the Ambulance Loading Point Officer will
complete and remove the transport tag (at the side of the SMART Triage Tag) for records. This
documentation enables the tracking and accounting of the casualtys movement.

The SMART Triage Tag will be attached with patient who is then transferred to the definitive care
destination.

2.2 Triage Sieve and Casualty Count Chart

A double sided card with an adult triage sieve process and the casualty count chart is attached to the
SMART Triage Pack with an elastic band. The card is also made from the same waterproof material as the
triage tags.
130(07/07/11)
Transport Tag

24 hours time recording


The chart provides a quick reference of the triage sieve process and a casualty count record is a document
that can be used by Ambulance First Responders and Health Response Teamto track the number of
casualties and the clinical acuity.

130(07/07/11)


2.3 Paediatric SMART Tape

The durable Paediatric SMART Tape is an evidence based system
3
enables Ambulance First Responders
and Health Response Teams to make non-biased triage decisions for children from3kg/50cmto
32kg/140cm
4
. The use of this tool has been incorporated into the existing Health and Ambulance training
programs.

TM

TM

2.4 CBR Tag
5

The Chemical Biological and Radiological (CBR) Tag provides a formto record the details for
contaminated casualties froman incident involving chemical, biological, radiological or infectious agents.
However, the CBR Tag does not replace the SMART Triage Tag and does not have the unique identifier
barcode and number. Therefore, the CBR Tag must be used together with the SMART Triage Tag.

130(07/07/11)
3
Hodgetts, T., J . Maconochie, C. & Smart, C (1998). Paediatric triage tape. Pre-hospital Immediate Care 2:155-159.
4
Sandell, J . M. & Charman, S.C (2009). Can age-based estimates of weight be safely used when resuscitating children? Emergency Medicine
J ournal 2009;26;43-47.
5
The termWMD used in the SMART Triage Pack or Education Pack, should be referred as CBR. WMD is a termused in USA but not in
Australia. In Australia, the term CBR is used instead.

CHILDREN RANGE
FROM 3KG/50CM
TO 32 KG /140CM


The unique identifier number of the victims SMART Triage Tag is required to be documented on the CBR
Tag. The completed CBR Tag is to be inserted in the front clear plastic pocket of the SMART Triage Tag.

TM

7. Training

The Mass Casualty Triage Pack has been incorporated in the Major Incident Medical Management and
Support (MIMMS) course and Ambulance training programs. Updated training will be provided for
existing trained health and ambulance personnel.

A train the trainer course has been conducted for relevant ambulance clinical educators, health services
disaster coordinators and nominated health and ambulance services personnel, to ensure that the training
process is undertaken across NSW Health.

Education packs were distributed to the relevant health and ambulance services for training purposes.

Each Education Pack consists of:
1 training DVD
1 training course presentation
1 Training Manual
8 Triage Exercise Cards
Triage sieve and Casualty Count
Paediatric SMART Tape
SMART Triage Tag
Deceased Tag
CBR Tags
Light stick

130(07/07/11)

CBR TAG STAYS WITH
CASUALTY
THROUGHOUT
DECONTAMINATION


8. Supplier Details

The manufacturer, TSG Associate Company has appointed a distributor within Australia for future orders.

The distributor is Midmed and the company details are:

Postal Address -
PO Box 508
Morningside QLD 4170

PH 07 3348 9155

FAX 07 3348 9950

Company website: www.midmed.com.au

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CLOSED HEAD INJURY IN ADULTS INITIAL MANAGEMENT (PD2012_013)

PD2012_013 rescinds PD2008_008.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to advise that the Initial Management of Closed Head Injury in Adults clinical
practice guideline has been updated to reflect the latest evidence based practice for the management of
adults with a closed head injury. The guideline provides clinicians with practical evidence based
recommendations to assist in the initial management of adults with mild, moderate and severe head injury.

The policy is to ensure that all Local Health Districts have protocols in place based on the key principles of
the guideline.

The clinical practice guideline was prepared for the Ministry of Health by an expert clinical reference
group under the auspice of the NSW Institute of Trauma and Injury Management.


This policy requires all health services to have local guidelines/protocols based on the clinical practice
guideline in place in all hospitals and facilities likely to be required to assess or manage patients with a
closed head injury.

The clinical practice guideline reflects what is currently regarded as a safe and appropriate approach to the
acute management of head injury. However, as in any clinical situation there may be factors which cannot
be covered by a single set of guidelines. The document should be used as a guide, rather than as a
complete authoritative statement of procedures to be followed in respect of each individual presentation. It
does not replace the need for the application of clinical judgement to each individual presentation.

IMPLEMENTATION

Chief Executives must ensure:
Local protocols are developed based on the Initial Management of Closed Head Injury in Adults
clinical practice guideline.
Local protocols are in place in all hospitals and facilities likely to be required to assess or manage
patients with a closed head injury.
Ensure that all staff treating patients with a head injury are educated in the use of the locally
developed protocols.

Directors of Clinical Governance are required to informrelevant clinical staff treating patients of the
revised protocols.

1. BACKGROUND

1.1 About this document

The NSW Institute of Trauma and Injury Management (ITIM) has updated the Initial Management of
Closed Head Injury in Adults clinical practice guideline to reflect the latest evidence based practice for the
management of adults with a closed head injury.

147(09/02/12)


The guideline is intended for use by clinicians in all facilities which provide initial care to the mild,
moderate and severely head injured patient. The practical evidence based recommendations are regarded
as a safe and appropriate approach to the acute management of adults with closed head injury. However, as
with any clinical guideline the document should be used as a guide, rather than as a complete authoritative
statement of procedures.

Each LHD must have clear and readily available protocols incorporating the following principles.

1.2 Key definitions

Must indicates a mandatory action that must be complied with.

Should indicates a recommended action that should be followed unless there are sound clinical reasons
for taking a different course of action.

Mild head injury a patient with an initial GCS score of 14-15 on arrival at hospital following acute blunt
head trauma with or without a definite history of loss of consciousness or post traumatic amnesia.

Moderate head injury a patient with an initial GCS score of 9-13 on arrival at hospital following acute
blunt head trauma.

Severe head injury a patient with an initial GCS score of 3-8 on arrival at hospital following acute blunt
head trauma.

Post traumatic amnesia period of time during which a person is unable to lay down new memories
following an injury.

Post concussion syndrome a set of symptoms which are commonly experienced following blunt acute
head trauma. The symptoms may include headaches; dizziness; fatigue; memory impairment; poor
concentration; mood swings; behavioural changes; sleep disturbances and social dysfunction.

2. KEY PRINCIPLES

2.1 Mild closed head injury

Patients with mild closed head injury (initial Glasgow Coma Scale 14-15) should be risk stratified into high
and low risk groups based on the presence or absence of specified clinical risk factors.

Patients with a mild head injury should be assessed by a process of structured clinical assessment involving
a combination of :
Initial clinical history and examination.
Serial clinical observations.
CT scanning if clinically assessed as being at increased risk of clinically significant lesions requiring
acute neurosurgical intervention or prolonged observation in hospital.

Patients with persistent acute clinical symptoms (including post traumatic amnesia, disorientation,
confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache) at four hours post injury require prolonged
clinical observation; and a CT scan should be performed (if not already done) to exclude a structural lesion.

Where CT scanning is unavailable patients with high risk mild head injury will require either admission for
prolonged observation or early transfer of CT scanning depending on clinical assessment of risk.

147(09/02/12)


If a patient with mild head injury deteriorates, the priorities are exclusion of other injuries, supportive care
of the ABCDEs and early CT scan to identify a neurosurgically significant lesion. If a neurosurgically
significant lesion is identified, further management should be discussed with a neurosurgical service.

Mild head injury patients can be safely discharged for home observation after an initial period of in-
hospital observation if they meet specified clinical, social and discharge advice criteria.

All patients with mild head injury must be given both verbal and written discharge advice covering signs
and symptoms of acute deterioration, when to seek urgent medical attention, lifestyle advice to assist
recovery, information about typical post concussion symptoms and reasons for seeking further medical
follow up.

2.2 Moderate head injury

Patients who present initially with moderate head injuries should all have an early CT scan and close
clinical observation. They should be admitted to hospital for at least 24 hours observation unless they
rapidly return to normal, have a normal CT scan and absence of other clinical risk factors.

The majority of patients who suffer moderate head injuries will have some degree of cognitive behavioural
social sequelae and should be considered for routine follow up with a brain injury rehabilitation service or a
neurologist.

2.3 Severe head injury

Resuscitation with adequate oxygenation and fluid resuscitation and the treatment of other immediately life
threatening injuries should be the priority for patients with severe head injury followed by the CT
identification of focal intracranial lesions requiring acute neurosurgical intervention. Early intubation to
prevent hypoxaemia and facilitate management is recommended.

A neurosurgical service must be consulted about further management of patients with severe head injury as
soon as practical after the initial primary survey and resuscitation.

Patients with closed head injury assessed at hospitals without CT scanning facilities should be transferred
to the nearest appropriate hospital if there is significant risk of intracranial injury. Transfer of patients to a
hospital with CT scanning facilities but without neurosurgical services should be avoided wherever
possible.

2.4 Analgesia

Most headaches associated with isolated mild head injury will respond to simple analgesia such as
paracetamol. If paracetamol is ineffective as a sole agent then stronger analgesia such a oral opioids or
parenteral opioids should not be prescribed to patients with isolated mild head injury unless the need for an
initial or repeat CT scan to exclude clinically important intracranial lesions has been considered and a
senior clinician has been consulted.

Most moderate head injury patients and nearly all severe head injury patients will require titrated
intravenous analgesia and sedation for associated injuries, clinical management or intubation. These
patients will all require close clinical observation in a high dependency area following initial clinical
assessment and CT scanning.

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2.5 Anti-convulsants

Post traumatic seizures are a recognised complication of closed head injuries with incidence depending
largely on severity of injury. Acute post traumatic seizures occurring in hospital require systematic
reassessment of the ABCDEs to exclude systemic causes and termination with benzodiazepines if required.
Underlying structural lesions should be excluded with CT scan and then the need for prophylactic anti-
convulsants considered.

Prophylactic anti-convulsants are not indicated for patients with uncomplicated mild head injury.
Prophylactic anti-convulsants, such as phenytoin, should be considered in patients with complicated mild
head injury or moderate to severe head injury who have specific risk factors that put themat increased risk
of seizures. Clinical judgement is required and neurosurgical consultation is advisable.

3. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

1. Initial Management of Closed Head Injury in Adults (2nd Ed)
Available as a single document at:
http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/3/3d/Closed_Head_Injury_CPG_2nd_Ed_Full_document.pdf

2. Initial Management of Closed Head Injury in Adults (2nd Ed) Summary Document
http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/d/d0/Closed_Head_Injury_CPG_2nd_Ed_Summary_document.pdf

3. Algorithm: Initial Management of Adult Closed Head Injury
http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/8/83/Closed_Head_Injury_CPG_2nd_Ed_Algorithm_1.pdf

4. Algorithm: Initial Management of Adult Mild Closed Head Injury
http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/7/74/Closed_Head_Injury_CPG_2nd_Ed_Algorithm_2.pdf

5. Implementation Checklist

147(09/02/12)


CRITICAL CARE TERTIARY REFERRAL NETWORKS (PERINATAL) (PD2010_069)

PD2010_069 rescinds PD2005_107 & PD2005_156.

PURPOSE

This Policy Directive relates to critically ill neonates and women with high risk pregnancies that require
inter-hospital transfer, and should be read in conjunction with the Policy Directive PD2010_021; Critical
Care Tertiary Referral Networks & Transfer of Care (Adults).

Pursuing best practice perinatal care across NSW requires services to embrace an integrated model of
maternity care that recognises the need for effectively linked and networked services across primary (role
delineation 1 to 3), secondary (role delineation 3 to 5) and tertiary (role delineation 5 and 6) levels of care.
This Policy Directive does not replace the requirement for Area Health Services to ensure the establishment
and maintenance of tiered networks for the provision of timely access to higher levels of obstetric and
neonatal support for women and babies as the need arises.

The NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Perinatal) Policy Directive defines the links between
referring hospitals and tertiary referral hospitals, taking into account unit: capacity; AHS birth rates; and,
ensuring functional clinical referral relationships.


Each AHS is required to make certain that escalation plans are in place to ensure the appropriate
accommodation of a neonate or a pregnant woman. In the first instance, local escalation plans should
promote the tiered network of services within the Area Health Service and the Perinatal Services Network.
In circumstances where it is identified that there are beds/cots required beyond the local Network, the local
escalation plans should also articulate procedures for clinicians to seek advice and/or support beyond their
designated Network. This will be the responsibility of a designated senior Area Health Service position.

Local escalation plans should include direction for clinicians regarding review of all inpatients to determine
whether internal transfer of patients within a facility, or across facilities, would improve access to required
beds. Where, after thorough exploration of local resources, it is determined that there are no locally
available, appropriate resources for patient management, clinicians will escalate these requirements through
the NSW neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) and the Perinatal Advice Line
(PAL) where advice, or transfer, is required.

A tertiary referral hospital designated by the NSW Perinatal Default Matrix must take responsibility for
providing critical care, irrespective of bed status, to a specified group of referral hospitals when the Default
Perinatal Policy is invoked.

IMPLEMENTATION

Area Health Service Chief Executives are responsible for:
Meeting the perinatal intensive care needs of that Area and linked rural Area Health Services where
specified, including the provision of clinical advice and ensuring access to appropriate treatment.
Ensuring that all options for placement of critically ill neonates and at risk mothers within the
referral network have been explored and that all appropriate transfers fromNIC and maternity Units
within and outside the Area to inpatient wards have been made.
Ensuring formalised intra-Area and inter-Area referral arrangements are in place for critically ill
neonates and pregnant women needing a higher level of definitive care and for non-critically ill
patients requiring referral for specialist care.
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Ensuring formalised cross-jurisdictional border arrangements exist for the referral of critically ill
neonates and women with high-risk pregnancies where required.
Ensuring that clinical referral and support processes are transparent and effectively communicated to
all staff to ensure patients can access timely definitive care. This responsibility lies ultimately with
the Area Director of Clinical Operations.
Engaging relevant clinicians and ensuring that consistent local protocols or operating procedures are
developed and distributed to relevant clinical areas.

Directors of Clinical Governance are required to informrelevant clinical staff of this Policy Directive.

BACKGROUND

Introduction

Owing to the high level of complexity and specialist service requirements, neonatal intensive care and high
risk obstetric services are not located in all Area Health Services. However, these services are available to
all residents as they are provided through a formalised state network. This statewide network has been in
operation since the development of the NSW Pregnancy and newborn Services Network (PSN) in 1990;
this network includes the ACT as a partner. In order to provide stronger linkages between referral and
other facilities, maternal and newborn service networks will be established in collaboration with clinicians,
to support an integrated statewide approach.

This Policy Directive relates to critically ill neonates and women with high risk pregnancies that require
inter-hospital transfer, and should be read in conjunction with the Policy Directive PD2010_021; Critical
Care Tertiary Referral Networks & Transfer of Care (Adults). This Policy Directive supersedes
PD2005_473 and PD2006_046.

Pursuing best practice perinatal care across NSW requires services to embrace an integrated model of
maternity care that recognises the need for effectively linked and networked services across primary (role
delineation 1 to 2), secondary (role delineation 3 to 4) and tertiary (role delineation 5 and 6) levels of care.

This Policy Directive does not replace the requirement for Area Health Services to ensure the
establishment and maintenance of tiered networks for the provision of timely access to higher levels
of obstetric and neonatal support for women and babies as the need arises. The effective operation
of the Statewide Perinatal Network relies on the intra- and inter-Area tiered Networks.

The NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Perinatal) Policy Directive defines the links between
referring hospitals and tertiary referral hospitals, taking into account unit: capacity; AHS birth rates; and,
ensuring functional clinical referral relationships.

Operating in conjunction with this Policy Directive, are clinical super-specialty referral networks which are
also defined within this policy directive and include:

1. NSW Severe Burn Injury Service (Adult)
2. NSW Acute Spinal Cord Injury Referrals (Adult)
3. NSW Major Trauma Referrals (Adult)
4. NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Adults)
5. NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Paediatrics)

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Each AHS is required to ensure that escalation plans are in place to ensure the appropriate accommodation
of a neonate or a pregnant woman. In the first instance, local escalation plans should promote the tiered
network of services within the Area Health Service and the Perinatal Services Network. In circumstances
where it is identified that there are clinical services required beyond the local Network, the local escalation
plans should also articulate procedures for clinicians to seek advice and/or support beyond their designated
Network. This will be the responsibility of a designated senior Area Health Service position.

Local escalation plans should include direction for clinicians regarding review of all inpatients to determine
whether internal transfer of patients within a facility, or across facilities, would improve access to required
beds. Where, after thorough exploration of local Network resources, it is determined that there are no
available, appropriate resources for patient management, clinicians will escalate these requirements through
the Neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) and the Perinatal Advice Line (PAL)
where advice, or transfer, is required.

NETS provides statewide coordination of neonatal and paediatric retrieval, and complements the Perinatal
Advice Line (PAL) in coordinating difficult or complex high-risk maternal referral consultation and
transfer. Women with high obstetric risks who live near NSW borders may be appropriately referred, via
mechanisms developed for obstetric transfer, with the adjoining state. Patient transport is arranged by the
referring facility in consultation with the NSW Ambulance Service or through NETS.

All maternity hospitals and other health care facilities have the potential to deal with obstetric patients and
as such should have procedures in place for the co-ordination of emergency inter-hospital transfer of
obstetric and/or newborn patients. Where there are complications of pregnancy or labour (including
pretermonset of labour), it is essential that the clinician responsible is aware of appropriate processes for
escalation. If the clinical issue is beyond the normal scope of practice for the facility, the advice of
obstetric and neonatal clinicians in a higher delineated unit should be sought. Where a clinician has
determined that a patient needs to be transferred to receive the most appropriate care, the parent(s) should
be aware of current information including the infants likely chance of survival; options for care around
labour and birth; care of the infant immediately after birth; and, types of ongoing care that the baby may
require. The Outcomes for Premature Babies Book, produced by PSN may be a useful resource for
clinicians: http://www.psn.org.au/parent-information

The NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Perinatal) are supported by a number of organisations;
policies and procedures; and, education supports. These include: the NSW Pregnancy and Newborn
Services Network (PSN); the Neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS); the Perinatal
and Paediatric Resources System(PPRS); the Pregnancy Advice Line (PAL); as well as evidence based
practice; policy; and, guideline development; and statewide education resources.

It is expected that AHSs will ensure the provision of clinical support, cooperation and appropriate
education between units through current clinical and education staff. This process will be facilitated
through the tiered maternity networks which are currently under development. It is acknowledged that the
introduction of the proposed Local Hospital Networks may have an impact on the composition of the
perinatal networks in NSW. As that work is progressed, and the perinatal networks finalised, it is
acknowledged that there will be a requirement to revise this Policy Directive.

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To Contact NETS
Call: 1300 36 2500


When women have been identified as requiring referral to a higher role delineated maternity unit, clinicians
should contact the tertiary referral centre in their Network to discuss the care and transfer arrangements.
Consultants at the tertiary referral centres should be readily available to discuss clinical issues; The
Pregnancy Advice Line is a roster of senior obstetric specialists with high-risk pregnancy expertise from
tertiary units who are available for clinical advice as a back-up to the network tertiary referral centre. If
neonatal transport needs consideration, the NETS consultant should be included in the discussion, through
teleconference facilitated by NETS.

Appendix One details the requirements for facilities for the stabilisation of patients prior to medical
retrieval.

Key definitions

Neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service - NETS is a statewide service of NSW Health
that provides expert clinical advice, clinical co-ordination, stabilisation, and emergency treatment and inter
hospital retrieval for very sick babies and children up to the age of 16 years; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Perinatal and Paediatric Resource Service (PPRS) - The Perinatal and Paediatric Resources System
(PPRS) is a statewide database showing available high-risk obstetric, neonatal and paediatric clinical
resources in NSW and ACT. The site is updated regularly (two to three times daily) by all tertiary perinatal
and paediatric hospitals in NSW and ACT and is pivotal to the day to day clinical functioning of the NSW
Pregnancy and Newborn Services Network, the NSW Paediatric Intensive Care Network, and their medical
retrieval arm, the NSW neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS).

Pregnancy and newborn Services Network (PSN) - The PSN is multidisciplinary organisation of
clinicians striving to provide the best care for high risk pregnant women and newborn infants. The aimof
the NSW Pregnancy and Newborn Services Network is to improve the process and outcome of maternal
and neonatal care in NSW, especially to those women and/or babies at risk of an adverse outcome, through
clinical co-ordination, education and research.

Pregnancy Advice Line (PAL) - is a telephone hotline available to provide clinicians and ambulance staff
with advice on the management and emergency transfer of women who require intensive care during
pregnancy.

Pregnancy Advice Line (PAL) Consultant - fetomaternal specialists and obstetricians with an interest in
high risk obstetrics fromLevel 6 obstetric hospitals in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
who provide the telephone advice.

Role Delineation - Role delineation identifies the level of clinical complexity that can be safely managed
with a clinical service based on the clinical support services available at the facility.

Tiered Maternity Networks The organisation of maternity services fromlow risk to high risk in
appropriately resources facilities. Role delineations of maternity services range from1 to 6. The tiered
maternity networks reflect complex and the inter-dependent relationships across clinical maternity services.
The tiered maternity networks provide guidance for escalation when risk factors are identified beyond the
designated role delineation of the local maternity service.

High Risk Obstetric Referral Networks and Neonatal Intensive Care

High risk obstetric and neonatal care may be provided in a level 5 or 6 facility, as described by the NSW
Guide to the Role Delineation of Health Services. Clinicians will make the decision as to the most
appropriate facility for care, based on patient needs in conjunction with available beds and resources.
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Whilst recognising the Statewide remit of the NSW Neonatal Network, and that access for all high-risk babies
and mothers is the priority, each referral hospital has a primary responsibility for provision of advice and
accepting referrals fromthe associated group of hospitals. This list should be made readily available to all
clinical staff likely to receive calls.

The tables below identify hospitals and the tertiary referral hospitals which are the primary source of
advice and referral networks.

Referral Hospital: Royal North Shore Hospital
Gosford
Hornsby
Manly/Mona Vale
Ryde
Wyong

Private
Mater
North Shore
North Gosford
Sydney Adventist Hospital

Cobar
Collarenebri
Coonabarabran
Coonamble
Goodooga
Lightning Ridge
Narromine
Walgett

Referral Hospitals: Westmead & Nepean Hospitals

Nepean Westmead
Blue Mountains
Hawkesbury
Lithgow
Bathurst
Condobolin
Dubbo
Dunedoo
Forbes
Gilgandra
Lake Cargelligo
Mudgee
Gulgong
Oberon
Orange
Parkes
Wellington

Private
Nepean

Auburn
Blacktown

Private
Norwest
Westmead

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Usually refer to Adelaide:
Bourke


Referral Hospital: John Hunter Hospital
Armidale
Belmont
Glen Innes
Gloucester
Gunnedah
Inverell
Maitland
Manilla
Moree
Muswellbrook
Narrabri
Singleton
Tamworth
Quirindi
Wee Waa
Coffs Harbour
Private
Maitland
Newcastle Private

Grafton
Kempsey
Manning
Port Macquarie
Scott Memorial
Walcha

North of Grafton will usually refer to Brisbane, owing to
proximity.
Ballina
Byron Bay
Casino
Lismore
Murwillumbah
Mullumbimby
Tweed Heads

Private:
St Vincents Lismore
Baringa

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Referral Hospitals: Royal Prince Alfred & Liverpool Hospitals
Liverpool Royal Prince Alfred (RPA)
Bowral
Camden
Campbelltown
Fairfield
Bankstown/Lidcombe

Private:
Sydney South West Private

Balmain - emergency only
Canterbury
Concord - emergency only
Griffith
Hay
Narrandera
Leeton

North of Grafton will usually refer to
Brisbane, owing to proximity.
Ballina
Byron Bay
Casino
Lismore
Murwillumbah
Mullumbimby
Tweed Heads
usually refer to Adelaide
Broken Hill


Referral Hospital: Royal Hospital for Women

Milton Ulladulla
Shoalhaven and District
St George
St Vincents - emergency only
Sutherland
Wollongong

Private:
Calvary Hurstville
Kareena
Prince of Wales
St George Private
Figtree Private (Illawarra)

usually refer to Melbourne
Albury
Corowa
Deniliquin

Whilst predominantly providing neonatal surgical services, the neonatal intensive care beds at Sydney
Childrens Hospital and The Childrens Hospital at Westmead should also be considered when
maternity beds are identified at The Royal Hospital for Women and Westmead Hospital, due to campus co-
location.

The Greater Southern Area Health Service, Greater Western Area Health Service and North Coast Area
Health Service have tertiary obstetric and neonatal links with facilities in the Sydney metropolitan area. It
is acknowledged that these Area Health Services and northern sections of the Hunter New England Area
Health Service also have appropriate cross border relationships, owing to proximity, to tertiary critical care
services in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the ACT. These linkages are appropriate and
supported by NSW Health.
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Referral Hospital: The Canberra Hospital (TCH)

TCH provide support for
Calvary

Private:
Calvary Private
John James Private within ACT

and in NSW as follows:

Batemans Bay
Bega
Bombala
Cooma
Cootamundra
Goulburn
Moruya
Pambula
Queanbeyan
Temora
Tumut
Wagga Wagga
Young

Private:
Mercy Care Centre, Young
Calvary Wagga Wagga
usually refer to Melbourne
Albury
Cowra
Deniliquin


In specific cases, the referring consultant, medical retrieval consultant and the receiving consultant may
decide to refer the woman or neonate to another hospital which is considered more clinically appropriate
for the woman or neonates definitive care. Wherever possible, the woman or parent(s) should be included
in these discussions.

NSW Statewide Default Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care and High Risk Obstetric Bed Policy

Each Area Health Service with tertiary neonatal and obstetric services is required to ensure that all options
for placement of critically ill neonates and at risk mothers within the referral network have been explored
and that all appropriate transfers fromNIC and maternity Units within and outside the Area to inpatient
wards have been made.

In situations where it needs to be declared that a combination of no neonatal intensive care and/or high risk
obstetric beds are available and a tertiary transfer is necessary, then the Default Perinatal Policy may be
invoked. This step is taken only after thorough assessment of statewide Neonatal Intensive Care and High
Risk Maternity services capacity and intra-Area default mechanisms within the appropriate Critical Care
Tertiary Referral Networks for Perinatal Care.

However, fundamental to this procedure being activated is the principle that:

Where the condition of a patient or fetus is critical and requires immediate emergency treatment,
then the process of initiating transfer of the patient must start without delay; regardless of bed
issues. If in any doubt, transfer should be to the facility designated by the NSW Statewide Default
ICU Matrix Perinatal that is able to provide appropriate emergency treatment irrespective of
bed status. This can be addressed following the initiation of emergency care.

In the event of the default systembeing activated, a referral hospital will be designated as the hospital
responsible to provide critical care, irrespective of bed status, as specified in the NSW Statewide Default
ICU Matrix Perinatal. This matrix has been developed following consultation with Area Health
Services, the Neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service, the Paediatric Intensive Care
Advisory Group, the Pregnancy and newborn Service Network, the High Risk Obstetric Group, Maternal
& Perinatal Health Priority Taskforce, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Managers Group and other key
stakeholders.

The referring hospital will call the Obstetric or Neonatal Unit at the default matrix tertiary hospital to
discuss the patient and arrange appropriate transfer.

Should the first tertiary hospital called be unable to accept the transfer, that tertiary hospital will make
alternative arrangements with another tertiary hospital within the network; ensuring at all times that
the patients clinical need is met, and communication maintained with the referring centre. No patient
should be refused admission without discussion involving the senior specialist at the referral hospital.
NETS can provide clinical conference facilities to assist this process but clinical leadership of the process
rests with the default matrix tertiary hospital involved.

Where necessary, a rostered consultant is available for the state to discuss clinical (statewide obstetric
advisor), system(PSN consultant) or logistic (NETS consultant) issues. In many cases, a solution will be
found after a discussion between senior obstetric and neonatal clinicians. If transfer is required and other
options are not possible, the patient will be transferred to default referral hospital listed in the matrix.

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Operational Principles for NETS and PAL

The key principles of the operation of NETS and PAL are:

1. Statewide coordination of neonatal and paediatric retrieval services, in collaboration with the
Specialist Neonatal Retrieval Services located at:
Newcastle
Canberra
Victoria (Melbourne)
Queensland (Brisbane)
South Australia (Adelaide) and
Regional adult retrieval services in Orange, Tamworth, Lismore, Sydney and Wollongong.

2. Single point of access for referring hospitals (public and private) anywhere in the state. All critical
care transfer requests or consultation (related to high-risk obstetrics, neonates or paediatrics) where a
critical care transfer is contemplated must be made through NETS.

3. Use of conference call facilities to:
bring the referring clinician in direct contact with the medical retrieval consultant; preferred
referral consultant; PAL; and, other clinicians, as appropriate. The patients immediate treatment
requirements are the highest priority.
consult with various teams, coordination centres, ambulance services and vehicle operators.

4. NETS will facilitate the bed-finding process for critically ill or high risk babies and children for
more complex or definitive care. NETS does not find beds for patients being electively transferred
between hospitals. It is also not the role of NETS to find beds for maternity patients when there is no
risk to the baby.

5. Where there is a variance in view regarding the clinical appropriateness of the transfer, then the final
decision concerning the transfer will be made by the NETS medical retrieval consultant (babies) or
PAL Consultant (mothers) following a conference call between the referring clinician, receiving
medical consultant. This may need to include discussion with the relevant Area Health Service
Executive.

6. If a medical retrieval is planned for a baby or child, NETS will determine the most appropriate
transport vehicle to effect the retrieval.

Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS-NSW)

NETS
1300 362 500
Clinical Co-ordination
Teleconferencing
Arrange Paediatric/Neonatal Medical Retrieval
Advice on nurse escort
Facilitate identification of neonatal cots
Problemsolving
Advice for Clinicians uncertain about the process
Reporting systems failures

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NETS is the 24-hour coordination service and major provider of neonatal and paediatric retrievals. These
services include:
Clinical advice froma critical care medical retrieval consultant;
A one phone call referral which uses conference call facilities;
Mobilisation of an appropriate retrieval teamor ambulance escort;
Support to hospitals having difficulties referring high risk obstetric patients;
Support for Ambulance Service dealing with pre-hospital emergencies;
Liaison with interstate high risk obstetric, neonatal and paediatric emergency transport services;
Assistance with Intensive Care support when usual neonatal and paediatric hospital ICU beds are
unavailable;
Assistance with any emergency where routine patterns of referral are unavailable or delayed.
Liaison and consultation; including PAL.

Which Newborns May Need Medical Retrieval?

It is impossible to provide an exhaustive list detailing every consideration that may require referral to a
tertiary facility. Table One provides a list that offers cues to facilitate clinical decision-making.

Table One - Seek consultation regarding management and/or transfer of babies that have/are:

Airway
Intubated
Actual or threatened airway obstruction
Breathing
Respiratory distress of early onset
Respiratory distress persistent beyond 4 hours
Apnoea
Oxygen requirement >FiO
2
0.6 (blood gases available)
Oxygen requirement >FiO
2
0.4 (blood gases not available)
Respiratory distress with meconium aspiration proven radiologically
Circulation
Shocked (if not sure of threshold, refer)
Significant bleeding
Disability

Born before 35 weeks (outside role delineation)
Born before 33 weeks
Weigh <2,000g and are outside role delineation facility
Asphyxia with symptoms not rapidly correcting
Apgar score persistently less than 7.
Cyanosis despite oxygen therapy
Heart failure or arrhythmia
Seizures
Surgical conditions requiring acute therapy
Unwellness, especially if initially well.

Which Pregnant Women May Need Medical Retrieval?

Critically injured pregnant women should be treated as to any adult in this position, and transferred to the
nearest designated appropriate facility (eg. Major Trauma Centre), irrespective of ICU bed status, so that
emergency treatment can commence with minimal delay. Where possible it is prudent to transfer a
critically injured pregnant woman to a facility that also has an obstetric and neonatal intensive care service.

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A number of statewide clinical super-speciality networks operate in tandem with the NSW Tertiary
Referral Networks (Perinatal).

These networks are largely determined by the location of the clinical super-specialty services, and in some
cases, the imperative to achieve early clinical intervention such as for those patients with major trauma.

The following clinical super-specialty referral networks that may be required for pregnant women:

1. NSW Severe Burn Injury Service Referral Network (Adult)
2. NSW Acute Spinal Cord Injury Referral Network (Adult)
3. NSW Major Trauma Services (Adult)
4. NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Adult)

It is impossible to provide an exhaustive list detailing every consideration that may require referral to a
tertiary facility. Table Two provides a list that offers cues that may facilitate clinical decision-making.

TABLE 2 - Conditions requiring consultation regarding management and/or transfer
Hypertension BP Diastolic >110mmHg
BP Systolic >170mmHg
+/- proteinuria >2 +
+/- hyperreflexia
Threatened Premature Labour <34 weeks gestation
Premature rupture of the membranes
Premature cervical dilation identified with ultrasound scanning
Ruptured Membranes <34 weeks gestation
Antepartum Haemorrhage Bleeding <34 weeks gestation
Bleeding in excess of 200 mls
Placenta praevia encroaching or covering the internal os
Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus
(IDDM) or Gestational Diabetes
Mellitus (GDM) on insulin
In the presence of ketoacidosis
Unstable Blood Glucose Levels
Intra Uterine Growth Retardation
(IUGR)
Identified on ultrasound assessment
DVT/Pulmonary
Embolus/Coagulopathies

Cholestasis <34 weeks gestation

NSW Statewide Default ICU Matrix Perinatal

Each Area Health Service with tertiary neonatal and obstetric services is required to ensure that all options
for placement of at risk mothers and critically ill neonates within the referral network have been explored
and that all appropriate transfers fromNIC and maternity units, within the Area, to inpatient wards have
been made.

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Access to emergency care for time-critical patients is not to be delayed due to no availability of a Level 5
or 6 maternity or Neonatal Intensive Care bed. The appropriate retrieval service should be contacted
immediately regarding such patients.

In situations where it needs to be declared that a combination of no neonatal intensive care beds and/or high
risk obstetric beds are available and a tertiary transfer is necessary, then the NSW Statewide Default
Perinatal Bed Policy may be invoked. This step is taken only after thorough assessment of statewide
Neonatal Intensive Care and High Risk Maternity services capacity and intra-Area default mechanisms,
and, where they exist, within the appropriate Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks for Perinatal Care.

Fundamental to this procedure being activated is the principle that:

Where the condition of a patient or fetus is critical and requires immediate emergency
treatment, then that patient must be transferred immediately to the facility designated by
the NSW Statewide Default ICU Matrix Perinatal that is able to provide appropriate
emergency treatment irrespective of bed status; this can be addressed following the
initiation of emergency care.

In the event of the default systembeing activated, a referral hospital will be designated as the hospital
responsible to provide critical care, irrespective of bed status, as specified in the NSW Statewide Default
ICU Matrix Perinatal. This matrix has been developed following consultation with Area Health
Services, the Neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service, Paediatric Intensive Care Advisory
Group, Pregnancy and newborn Service Network, High Risk Obstetric Advisory Group, Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit Managers Group, Maternal & Perinatal Health Priority Taskforce, and other key stakeholders.

The referring hospital will call the Obstetric or Neonatal Unit at the default matrix tertiary hospital to
discuss the patient and arrange appropriate transfer.

Should the first tertiary hospital called be unable to accept the transfer, that tertiary hospital will make
alternative arrangements with another tertiary hospital within the network; ensuring at all times that the
patients clinical need is met, and communication maintained with the referring centre. No patient should
be refused admission without discussion involving the senior specialist at the referral hospital.

NETS can provide clinical conference facilities to assist this process but clinical leadership of the process
rests with the default matrix tertiary hospital involved.

Where necessary, a rostered Statewide Perinatal Advisor is available for the state to discuss clinical system
or logistic issues and is contactable through NETS. In many cases, a solution will be found after a
discussion between senior obstetric, neonatal and retrieval clinicians. If transfer is required and other
options are not possible, the patient will be transferred to default referral hospital listed in the matrix.

Invoking the Default Perinatal Bed Policy

The referring hospital contacts their Network maternity or neonatal Level 6 service to verify that there is no
capacity to accept the patient within their Network.
All units are to review exit blocked beds, liaise with the hospital executive to have themcleared and
update PPRS
The referring hospital verifies that there are no appropriate available beds as shown on PPRS.
The referring hospital contacts NETS who will explore any alternative destination for a neonatal
intensive care bed, or the PAL Consultant for a maternal bed.
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Where no appropriate available bed can be identified across the systemthe on-duty NETS Consultant,
in consultation with the PAL Consultant will invoke the Default Perinatal Bed Policy and contact the
receiving NICU and/or Obstetric Consultant.
The designated tertiary unit will accept the patient, irrespective of bed status, as per the Default Matrix.
Where there is continued difficulty accessing a maternity bed, the PAL Consultant may need to discuss
the issue with the relevant AHS Executive. On-going difficulties should be discussed with the
Director, Statewide Services Development Branch.
If NETS becomes aware of any exit block issues affecting access to tertiary neonatal beds, they will
notify the Director, Statewide Services Development Branch who will liaise with the relevant AHS
Executive to address these issues.


Where a patient requires time-critical care, not available at the referring hospital, then the
patient must be transferred immediately to the facility designated by the Default Hospital
Matrix that is able to provide appropriate emergency treatment irrespective of bed status.

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Obstetric Referral Process

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Neonatal/Paediatric Referral Process

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Appendix

Requirements for Facilities for the Stabilisation of Patients Prior to Medical Retrieval 1
These guidelines are provided to assist hospitals using a medical retrieval team to transfer a patient requiring intensive
care. It sets out the resources that are required for the safe and efficient stabilisation of patients of all ages. These
resources are required at those hospitals at or above role delineation Level 2 for Maternity Services (newborn infants)
and at or above Level 1 for all other age-groups.

These guidelines are designed to assist referring hospitals offer optimal care using the combined resources of the
referring hospital and the retrieval team to manage, stabilise and prepare patients for transport.

The guidelines were developed by NETS in collaboration with the Ambulance Service Medical Retrieval Unit;
regional advisory/retrieval services; and, referring hospitals.

Background
Guidelines were issued in 1997 for newborn patients to promote an effective mechanism for the stabilisation of
newborns, from referring hospitals. It was recognised that the scope of these guidelines needed to be expanded to
offer advice encompassing all age groups and include new aspects of clinical networking such as telemedicine.
Accordingly, this document covers all age groups.

Compliance
It is acknowledged that not all hospitals will be able to immediately provide the physical space specified in this
guideline. Hospitals are advised that if there is currently no suitable space within the ED, ICU, childrens ward or
neonatal nursery, alternative resuscitation areas can be provided in an appropriate area. However, when a hospital is
being refurbished or rebuilt, the requirements listed in this circular should be followed and reference made to the
functional space requirements contained in the current Health Facility Guideline.

Where specific essential equipment items listed below are not available at present, provision should be made to
include these items in forward planning cycles as soon as possible.

Ventilatory Support
Facilities that have medical officers formally trained in managing ventilated patients may have ventilators capable of
supporting Adults, Children, Infants and Neonates - depending on caseload of patients requiring ventilatory support.
Where such ventilators are available, they must be complemented by the capacity to measure airway pressure,
expiratory tidal or minute ventilation, and end tidal CO
2
(or skin CO
2
monitoring).

Imaging Facilities
If imaging facilities are available in the referring facility, an X-Ray viewing box or Picture Archiving and
Communication System (PACS) system must be in a location that allows use without losing visual contact with the
patient. In addition, diagnostic images of the patient must be available to accompany the patient to their destination
hospital.

Pathology facilities
If Pathology facilities are available in the referring facility, a pathology results viewing system must be in a location
that allows use without losing visual contact with the patient.

Access by the mother of a newborn
After resuscitation of a newborn and prior to transport, it should be possible for the NETS Infant Transport Module to
be wheeled to the mothers bedside (or vice versa). Sufficient room is needed for the mother to be able to see and
touch her baby in the NETS transport system from her bed.

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Essential Facilities
An area or room that can be dedicated to the patient for retrieval and the workings of the team(minimum size 21m
2
child/adult;
15m
2
for a newborn). This area may be created from existing areas for those times a medical retrieval team is present. For
instance, by combining two patient care areas into one.
Easy, uncluttered access for a stretcher or hospital trolleys used by the retrieval team(size 900mmx 2000mm) from hospital entry
to patient care area without obstruction to other functions.
Procedure light (angle-poise type)
Resuscitation trolley with appropriate drugs and equipment for those age-groups being treated
Infant resuscitation trolley (open care system for body weight <5kg):
o Integrated overhead lighting
o Variable radiant heat source
o Swing-away hinge for overhead modules for mobile x-ray access
o Space available for retrieval teammodule to be positioned adjacent and at right angles
Panel fixtures:
o Oxygen x 2(reticulated preferred, cylinder supply will suffice in some locations)
o Medical Air x 2 (reticulated preferred, cylinder supply will suffice in some locations)
o Suction x 2 (one regulated for low/controlled suction, one high flow (reticulated supply and second high flow preferred)
o Body-protected GPOs x 10 (2 for retrieval team use, 8 for referring hospital equipment)
Height adjustable trolley to facilitate the loading and unloading of the patient/transport stretcher/medical equipment
Counter, bench top or table (min. 550 x 1200mm) for additional treatment equipment
Wash sink, soap dispenser, paper towel and alcohol/chlorhexidine hand rub dispenser
Waste receptacle of large capacity with large aperture orifice; positioned close to resuscitation area
Sharps disposal container, preferably mobile
Procedure trolley (900mm x 450mm minimum)
Telephone:
o Capable of direct call to relevant retrieval services (without using an operator)
o Handset usable at the bedside of the patient (may use cordless technology)
o Programmed for 1-key dialling to Regional Advisory/Retrieval Service, NETS, MRU
o Capable of direct in-dial with that number displayed on handset prominent
Facsimile machine:
o In a location that allows use without losing visual contact with the patient
o Programmed for 1-key dialling to Regional Advisory/Retrieval Service, NETS,MRU
o Capable of direct in-dial with that number displayed on device prominently
Photocopier with contrast and brightness adjustment
In-service training in using the medical retrieval system
Desirable Facilities
Lighting to meet standards of operating theatre, with adjustable intensity
Infant resuscitation trolley (open care system for body weight <5kg):
o In built frame for X-Ray plate positioning without disturbing the patient for contact-less imaging
Digital camera for clinical photography (including simple connection to computer for file transfer)
Computer:
o In a location that allows use without losing visual contact with the patient
o That allows access to clinical email services
o That allows access to approved clinical web-based services (eg. CIAP, NETS, etc.)
o That allows electronic transmission of digital images
o That allows rapid access to relevant policies and procedures for care and retrieval
Capacity to export clinical data from local information systems to retrieval coordination centres and/or receiving hospitals
Capability of continuously monitoring a patients ECG, pulse oximetry and automated non-invasive blood pressure measurements
Interview room immediately accessible to resuscitation area for family conferences

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POLICY FOR EMERGENCY PAEDIATRIC REFERRALS (PD2005_157)

The attached Policy is intended for display in emergency departments and paediatric wards. It details the
appropriate communication path for facilitation of emergency paediatric referrals.

The Policy provides guidelines which will simplify access to tertiary paediatric hospitals and specialist
intensive care centres. The policy will assist in facilitating appropriate clinical decisions regarding transfer
requests and ensure consultant advice is available for complex or difficult problems.

The Policy was prepared by the Neonatal and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), in
consultation with the Perinatal Services Network, intensive care units, high risk obstetric services and the
Ambulance Service of NSW.

Colour, laminated copies of the chart are available fromNETS.



MATERNITY EMERGENCIES (PD2005_161)

Maternity emergencies by definition afford clinicians little or no warning and may occur at times
when senior staff are not immediately available.

All maternity facilities should have protocols in place for the immediate management of obstetric
emergencies, including:
Hypertensive crisis/eclampsia
Antepartumhemorrhage
Postpartumhemorrhage of more than 600 mls
Tonic contractions
Umbilical cord prolapse
Neonate requiring resuscitation
Shoulder dystocia

Emergency protocols must be clearly labelled and immediately accessible in the delivery suite.

Mechanisms for continuing staff education for the above maternity emergencies should also be in
place.

The protocols should state that in some emergencies it may be appropriate to transfer a pregnant
woman or a neonate to a hospital with a higher level of care.

The protocols should include:
Who to ring for obstetric emergencies: phone numbers for district and tertiary obstetric referral
hospitals. Tertiary perinatal centres have specialist obstetric consultants available to provide
clinical management and maternal transfer advice. If the tertiary consultant is unable to assist a
24-hour feto-maternal specialist advice line exists (PAL).
Who to ring for neonatal emergencies: phone numbers for tertiary referral centres and NSW
newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Services (NETS). NETS provides triaging,
clinical management and transfer advice and mobile intensive care services.
the NETS and PAL emergency phone number (1300 362 500)

Resources for Protocol Development

The NSW Perinatal Services Network (PSN) can assist with protocol development or adaptation
(phone 02 9351 7318 or facsimile 02 9351 7742).

Hospitals with tertiary referral services

The Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of hospitals with tertiary referral services have also
indicated that they are willing to provide copies of their protocols to other hospitals as a resource
and/or assist with the development of hospital specific clinical protocols. Requests for copies of
policies/procedures may be forwarded to the Director of Obstetrics at:

King George V Memorial Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown 2050
Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Highway, St Leonards 2065
Royal Hospital for Women, Barker Street, Randwick 2031
Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth Street, Liverpool 2170
Westmead Hospital, Cnr Hawkesbury and Darcy Roads, Westmead 2145
Nepean Hospital, Somerset Street, Penrith 2751
J ohn Hunter Hospital, Lookout Road, Newcastle 2305
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While protocols may be a common resource to many hospitals, individual hospitals remain
responsible for ensuring that their own protocols are up to date and staff are trained and able to
implement them. Regions may wish to consult with their Area Managers on protocol development.

Other resources

The guiding principles outlined in the NHMRC Guidelines for the development and implementation
of clinical practice guidelines (1999) are the suggested framework for the development of policies
addressing clinical emergencies.
1

The NSW Guide to the Role Delineation of Health Care Services provides risk categories for
maternity patients relating to appropriate level of care required for various maternal risk categories at
the intended place of delivery.
2

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1
NHMRC Guidelines for the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines (1999) available in full text at
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/cp30
2
Guide to the role delineation of health services. Clinical Services Planning Unit. Statewide Services Development Branch. NSW Health
Department.


AT RISK DISCHARGE POLICY FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS
(PD2005_082)

A recent Health Care Complaints Commission investigation highlighted a case where a patient
deemed at risk was discharged alone froman emergency department at night.

Can you please ensure that all emergency departments within your Area/District are aware of the
following directives:
All emergency departments are to have in place a policy for the discharge of at risk (eg
elderly, debilitated, intoxicated or paediatric patients or those with a mental disorder) patients
between the hours of 10pmand 8am.
The policy should identify at risk patients requirements following discharge, and how and
who will meet those requirements.
Formal x-ray reports of emergency department patients should be accessible within 24 hours.
Staffing actions should be undertaken to ensure experienced staff are available to review and
interpret reports.
Local policy should exist regarding correct and timely processing and filing of loose sheets as
they are used in the emergency department.

CRITICAL CARE TERTIARY REFERRAL NETWORKS & TRANSFER OF CARE
(ADULTS) (PD2010_021)

PURPOSE

This Policy Directive relates to critically ill/injured adult patients and those patients at risk of critical
deterioration requiring referral and transfer of care.

The NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Adults) define the links between Area Health
Services and tertiary referral hospitals and take into account established functional clinical referral
relationships.

The policy also defines the roles of various statewide clinical speciality referral networks that operate
in conjunction with the NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Network (section 10).


Access to emergency care and/or surgical intervention for time-urgent critically ill/injured
patients is not to be delayed due to no-available ICU bed. Aeromedical and Medical
Retrieval Service (AMRS) is to be contacted immediately should this situation arise.
Requirements for transfer of critically ill obese patients as set out in section 6 must be applied.
Each Area Health Services must have in place by February 2011 an Area-wide protocol for the
escalation of care to guide the referral of non-critical patients for specialist care (section 9).
A tertiary referral hospital designated by the NSW Intensive Care Default Hospital Matrix must
take responsibility for providing critical care, irrespective of bed status, to a specified group of
referral hospitals when the Default Adult Intensive Care Bed Policy is invoked (section 11).

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In time urgent situations the AMRS has the authority to transport the patient directly to the linked
tertiary hospital designated by the NSW statewide critical care tertiary networks, regardless of
available bed state. If there is a closer hospital that can provide the time-urgent treatment required,
AMRS may elect to transport the patient there. In each case the AMRS Consultant will notify the
receiving clinician.

IMPLEMENTATION

Area Health Service Chief Executives are responsible for:
Meeting the critical care and intensive care needs of that Area and linked rural Area Health Services,
where specified, including the provision of clinical advice and ensuring access to appropriate
treatment.
Ensuring that all options for placement of the critically ill patient within the originating Area have
been explored and that all appropriate transfers fromIntensive Care Units within the Area to other
inpatient wards have been made.
Ensuring formalised intra-Area and inter-Area referral arrangements exist for critically ill patients
needing a higher level of definitive care and for non-critically ill patients requiring referral for
specialist care.
patients where required.
all staff to ensure patients can access definitive care in an appropriate timeframe. This responsibility
lies ultimately with the Area Director of Clinical Operations.
Engaging relevant clinicians and ensuring that consistent local protocols or operating procedures are
developed and distributed to relevant clinical areas.

Directors of Clinical Governance are required to informrelevant clinical staff of the revised policy
directive.

Area Directors of Clinical Operations are responsible for ensuring appropriate referral arrangements are in
place for all non-critical patients requiring referral for specialist care. (Section 2)

The NSW Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Service (AMRS), a unit of the NSW Ambulance Service,
provides statewide coordination of adult medical retrieval services for critically ill patients in collaboration
with the Regional Retrieval Services. Similarly, the Regional Retrieval Services liaise with AMRS
regarding all retrieval activity. The AMRS is the central point of contact for the medical retrieval of all
critically ill adult patients.

Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Service (AMRS) Ph: 1800 650 004.

Background

Introduction

The NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks & Transfer of Care (Adults) Policy Directive
(PD2010_021) was issued in 2010 and is currently utilised extensively across the systemto guide the
process of appropriate critical care adult tertiary networking, referral and patient transfer. Since releasing
the 2006 version planning has progressed on the reconfiguration of the NSW Trauma System, establishing
the NSW Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Medical Retrieval Service and implementing
the web based Critical Care Resource management System(CCRS).
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In addition to these developments a number of issues, identified through Incident Information Management
System(IIMS) data review, Root Cause Analysis (RCA) recommendations and reported by the Critical
Care Health Priority Taskforce, have been addressed, and have been incorporated to this revision of the
Policy Directive including:
Realignment of North Coast Area Health Service (south sectors) critical care tertiary referrals from
Royal North Shore Hospital to J ohn Hunter Hospital line with major trauma referrals
Clarification of the clinical advice and bed finding role of Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval
Service (AMRS)
Formalising the AHS processes for the referral of non-critical patients for higher specialist care
Managing non-critical patients at risk of critical deterioration
Managing the transfer of obese critically ill patients
Managing primary acute spinal injury and severe burn patient referrals by helicopter
Clarifying the mandatory requirement that patients requiring emergency care are provided timely
access to the appropriate level of definitive care irrespective of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed status
Formalising the protocol for invoking the Default Adult ICU Bed Policy

CCRS is a statewide web based information systemthat informs the coordination and decision making for
the referral and placement of critically ill patients to the appropriate level of definitive care. CCRS is used
by the Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Service (AMRS) to assist statewide coordination of adult
medical retrieval services for critically ill patients in collaboration with the Regional Retrieval Services.
Similarly, the Regional Retrieval Services liaise with AMRS regarding all retrieval activity.

AMRS is the central point of contact for the medical retrieval of all critically ill adult patients.

Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Service (AMRS)
ph: 1800 650 004

Early Notification = Early Assistance
(In emergencies notification can occur prior to full patient assessment and investigation)

Key definitions

Aeromedical Operations Centre (AOC): A unit of the NSW Ambulance Service providing statewide
coordination of aeromedical transport and medical retrieval services.

Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Service (AMRS): A unit of the NSW Ambulance Service providing
clinical support and advice, transport and escort services for critically ill patients requiring medical
retrieval. AMRS is co-located with the AOC.

Time-urgent critically ill/injured patient: A patient requiring emergency care at the closest appropriate
hospital in the shortest time possible to achieve early intervention and stabilisation.

Non time-urgent critically ill patient: A patient stabilised who requires transfer for a higher level of
definitive critical care or clinical specialty, but whose transfer is not time-urgent.

Patient at risk of critical deterioration: A patient who has suffered a significant injury and/or illness
who may appear to be stable but whose condition may quickly deteriorate requiring constant monitoring
and early transfer for definitive care.
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Non-critical patient requiring specialist definitive care: A patient requiring referral and transfer for
specialist care facilitated by the Area Patient Flow Unit in consultation with the patients clinical
management team.

Neonatal and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS): A medical retrieval service for babies
and children who require intensive care.

Primary Retrieval: A patient transferred directly fromthe scene of an incident or medical emergency to
hospital.

Secondary Retrieval: A patient transferred between health facilities.

NSW Critical Care Services Adult Tertiary Referral Networks
The NSW critical care services adult tertiary referral networks define the links between Area Health
Services and tertiary referral hospitals and take into account established functional clinical referral
relationships.

Operating in conjunction with the critical care networks are statewide clinical specialty referral networks
which are also defined within this Policy Directive.

These include:
1. NSW Severe Burn Injury Service (Adult)
2. NSW Acute Spinal Cord Injury Referrals (Adult)
3. NSW Major Trauma Referrals (Adult/Paediatric)
4. NSW Rural Cardiac Catheterisation Services (Adult)
5. NSW Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Medical Retrieval
6. NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Neonatal and High Risk Obstetrics) and NSW
Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Paediatric).

In a number of cases, complementary Policy Directives will apply.

The Area Director of Clinical Operations is responsible for ensuring appropriate referral arrangements are
in place for all non-critical patients requiring referral for specialist care. Formalised specialist clinical
referral networks and referral process must be in place to guide and assist clinicians and Patient Flow Units
to ensure appropriate and timely patient referrals. AMRS does not have capacity to manage the referral and
transfer of non-critical patients. This also applies to patients requiring elective transfer between private
hospitals.

Each Area Health Service is responsible for:
Meeting the critical care and intensive care needs of that Area and linked rural Area Health Services,
where specified, including the provision of clinical advice and ensuring access to appropriate
treatment.
Ensuring that all options for placement of the critically ill patient within the originating Area have
been explored and that all appropriate transfers fromIntensive Care Units within the Area to other
inpatient wards have been made.
Ensuring formalised intra-Area and inter-Area referral arrangements exist for critically ill patients
needing a higher level of definitive care and for non-critically ill patients requiring referral for
specialist care.
patients where required.
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all staff to ensure patients can access definitive care in an appropriate timeframe. This responsibility
lies ultimately with the Area Director of Clinical Operations.

The following adult critical care tertiary referral networks are designated for all critically ill adult patients
requiring transfer to a tertiary facility, and are endorsed by the NSW Critical Care Health Priority
Taskforce, Rural Critical Care Taskforce and Ambulance Service of NSW (ASNSW) Medical Retrieval
Committee.

The Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS), Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) and
North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) have critical care referral links with tertiary facilities as
illustrated. Owing to proximity with other state and territory health facilities, these Area Health Services
also have cross border networks with tertiary critical care services in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria
and the ACT.

NSW Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Services (AMRS)

The Aeromedical and Medical Retrieval Services (AMRS) is a unit of the NSW Ambulance Service, and
provides statewide 24-hour coordination and support for primary and secondary adult medical retrievals.
Responsibilities include:
Clinical advice froma critical care medical retrieval consultant.
Mobilisation of an appropriate retrieval team.
A one phone call referral, wherever possible, for critically ill patients, which uses conference call
facilities to connect the referring clinician, medical retrieval consultant and receiving clinician.
Assistance with ICU bed availability, when usual tertiary referral hospital ICU beds are unavailable.
Assistance with any urgent transfer where routine patterns of referral are unavailable or unacceptably
delayed.

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AMRS is not responsible for finding beds or for the transfer of non-critically ill patients who require
referral for a higher level of specialist care. These referrals are to be facilitated through the Area Patient
Flow Units, Area based transport services and if needed the Ambulance Service of NSW.

Which Adults May Need Medical Retrieval?

Those with actual or potential significant injuries, illness or at risk of critical deterioration including
1
:

Airway All intubated patients
Patients potentially requiring airway intervention enroute (threatened airway
obstruction, altered or decreasing LOC, head/neck trauma, head/neck burns)
Breathing Significant respiratory distress or compromise after treatment
RR < 5 or >30, SpO
2
<90% on 15L oxygen
P
a
0
2
<60 or P
a
C0
2
>60 or pH <7.2 or BE <-5
Respiratory dependency on CPAP or BIPAP
Circulation Circulatory shock of any cause
Heart rate <40 or >140 beats per minute
SBP 90mmHg OR >200mmHg
Complex or recurrent arrhythmias (e.g. recurrent VF, sustained VT, CHB)
Ongoing significant bleeding
Disability Significant altered LOC GCS 13
Significant head injury
Acute spinal cord injuries
Recurrent or prolonged seizures
Intracerebral bleeding
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NSW Critical Care Services Adult Tertiary Referral Network
Area Health Service to Tertiary Hospital Links
Referring Area Health Service Receiving Tertiary Hospital
Northern Sydney/Central Coast Area Health Service Royal North Shore
Hunter/New England Area Health Service
North Coast Area Health Service
1

John Hunter
Sydney West Area Health Service
Westmead
Nepean
Sydney South West Area Health Service
Greater Western Area Health Service
2

Royal Prince Alfred
Liverpool
Concord
South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra Area Health Service
Greater Southern Area Health Service
3, 4

Canberra
4
Prince of Wales
St George
St Vincents
1. Owing to proximity, NCAHS maintains a clinical referral network with Queensland
2. Owing to proximity, Broken Hill maintains a clinical referral network with South Australia
3. Albury is networked with clinical services in Victoria however referral to a NSW facility may be required due
to clinical need.
4. Owing to proximity, GSAHS maintains a clinical referral network between The Canberra Hospital and the
following hospitals: Batemans Bay, Batlow, Bega, Bombala, Boorowa, Braidwood, Cooma, Delegate,
Moruya, Pambula, Queanbeyan, Tumut, Yass and Young.


To expedite the retrieval process, AMRS requires specific information regarding the patients details,
clinical status and management, and any special considerations such as obesity. A pro-forma for the
information required for adult critical care transfers is included in this Policy Directive to guide referring
clinicians (page 69).

Key Elements of the Medical Retrieval System

AMRS provides statewide coordination of adult medical retrieval services, in collaboration with the
Regional Retrieval Services. Adult medical retrieval services operate from:

Sydney (Bankstown)
Illawarra
Orange
Newcastle (J HH)
Tamworth
Lismore
Canberra
Dubbo (Royal Flying Doctor Service)
Broken Hill (Royal Flying Doctor Service)

Vehicle choice (road, helicopter or fixed wing) is made on pre-determined criteria, based on the clinical
urgency, transport requirements, optimumtransport teamand vehicle utilisation.
Vehicles providing aeromedical medical transport include both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
Fixed wing aircraft operate out of Sydney, Dubbo and Broken Hill. Sydney and Dubbo aircraft are
used exclusively for the inter-hospital transfers while the aircraft at Broken Hill is also used for primary
missions and to provide outreach clinic services.
Helicopters are designated as category 1 or category 2. Category 1 helicopters transport all age groups,
can carry two patients, are capable of instrument flight profiles (to fly in some but not all adverse
weather conditions), operate on a 24-hour basis and have a statewide utilisation profile. These aircraft
are located at Lismore, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Canberra. Category 2 helicopters are
capable of carrying one patient only, are capable of instrument flight profiles, operate from0800 to
1800 and have primarily a regional utilisation profile. These aircraft are located at Tamworth and
Orange. Only helicopters holding contracts with the ASNSW are to be used to transport patients.
Tertiary referral intensive care units are also the default hospital for private hospitals fromwithin their
Area Health Service.
Critically injured patients are to be transferred to the nearest (in-time) designated appropriate facility
(e.g. Major Trauma Service), irrespective of ICU bed status, so that emergency stabilisation and
treatment can commence with minimal delay. Aviation factors may at times influence the destination
hospital.
Where there is a difference in clinical opinion regarding the appropriateness of the transfer then the
final decision will be made by the medical retrieval consultant at AMRS. This will follow a conference
call between the referring clinician, receiving medical consultant and the medical retrieval consultant.
In specific cases, the referring consultant, medical retrieval consultant and the receiving consultant may
decide to refer a patient to a different hospital which is considered more clinically appropriate for that
patients definitive care.

Obese Patients

For the purposes of aeromedical transfer, an obese patient is defined as a patient weighing 110kg or more.
For road transfers, an obese patient is defined as a patient weighing 160kg or more. In addition to overall
weight, the dimensions of the patient and distribution of mass may affect the ability of a patient to fit on a
transport stretcher even if they meet the above criteria.
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Transfer of critically ill obese patients is challenging for both clinical and logistic reasons. Such patients
often have unrecognised clinical problems, and once recognised dealing with these can be technically
challenging. The transfer of obese patients by any vehicle is significantly slower than normal transfers.
Special equipment and facilities (height adjustable trolleys, manual handling aids, concrete helipads and
relatively flat and well surfaced pathways) are required and it is the responsibility of hospitals to have these
available. Lack of such equipment and facilities is likely to significantly delay or negate the possibility of
transfer.

Patient weight and logistic issues must be accurately conveyed to AMRS at the time of request to inform
the most appropriate mode of patient transport. A medical retrieval consultant (AMRS or Regional) should
be contacted in all critical care bariatric transfers.

Hospitals must ensure they have a means of weighing obese (including critically ill) patients, as this is
crucial for deciding which vehicles can be used for medical retrieval. An estimate of weight is
unacceptable as it is invariably an underestimate which may result in delays for transport as alternative
vehicles, stretchers and restraint systems are sourced. The Bariatric Sizing Chart on page 49 outlines the
methodology for correctly weighing and measuring obese patients. These details must be provided to the
AOC for all critical care patients over 110 kg.

In general it is not possible to transfer an obese patient by helicopter from, or to, a hospital that does not
have an on-site concrete helipad with paved access fromthe hospital. In other circumstances a road
transfer will be required, irrespective of distance.

Hospital trolleys used for transport must:
Be height adjustable at the maximumsafe working load via a self contained systemand not reliant
on external power
Be height adjustable from660mm to 1020mmabove ground level
Have a minimumsafe working load of 300kg
Have a patient platformlength of least 2 metres with no raised edging at one end.
Have a patient platformwidth of 700mm
Have a patient platformsurface that is smooth with raised edges on both sides and one end
Have a stretcher/patient restraint system
Large wheels suitable for manoeuvring over the hospital to helipad surface

It is the responsibility of the referring and receiving hospitals to provide sufficient personnel and/or
equipment to physically transport the patient fromtheir hospital location to and into the vehicle (or vice
versa). Regular communication is vital regarding the status of the mission, the condition of the patient and
any specific clinical requirements.

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Bariatric Sizing Chart for Aeromedical Transport

NSW Health Guideline GL2005_070 outlines the Occupational Health & Safety Issues Associated with the
Management of Bariatric (Severely Obese) Patients. The Guideline can be accessed at:

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Organising an Adult Medical Retrieval and Bed Finding

AMRS will facilitate the provision of clinical advice, referral to the appropriate linked tertiary hospital
consultant, bed finding and patient transfer for time urgent critically ill patients fromboth public and
private facilities to public facilities.

NB. Patient Flow Units should not be contacted in the first instance for time urgent critically ill
patients due to the lack of readily available clinical information for these patients.

The referral process for time urgent critically ill patients is:
Referring clinician calls AMRS on 1800 650 004 and, where feasible, a conference call will be
established; between the referring clinician, medical retrieval consultant and receiving clinician at the
linked tertiary hospital designated by the default hospital matrix. If there is a closer hospital that can
provide the time-urgent treatment, AMRS may elect to transport the patient there. In each case the
AMRS Consultant will notify the receiving clinician.
Clinical and logistic advice will be provided to the referring clinician to support the stabilisation and
resuscitation of the patient;
Referral will be triaged and coordinated by the AMRS within the context of competing priorities;
Referring clinicians are responsible for ensuring timely updates of any significant changes in the
patients condition are provided to AMRS;
AMRS is responsible for providing timely updates to the referring clinician on despatch and estimated
time of arrival of the medical retrieval team.

Non urgent critical care referrals are facilitated by reference to the Critical Care Resource management
System(CCRS) and utilising the established Area Health Service patient referral processes and clinical
networks. Once the destination has been accepted at the receiving hospital then AMRS is to be contacted
to undertake the retrieval. Should the established referral processes and clinical network not be able to
accommodate the patient then AMRS can be contacted to assist both bed finding and medical retrieval of
the patient.

Critical Care Resource Management System (CCRS)
CCRS is a statewide web based information systemthat assists the coordination and decision making for
the referral and placement of critically ill patients to the appropriate level of definitive care. CCRS informs
the availability of neonatal, paediatric, high risk maternity and adult critical care beds across NSW. An
integrated module of the statewide Bedboard program, CCRS receives automated data feeds fromthe Area
Health Services Patient Administration Systems to informthe ICU/HDU bed status.

CCRS can be accessed via the NSW Health intranet: http://ccrs.health.nsw.gov.au

CCRS enables each referring site to see available ICU and HDU beds in all facilities and provides
communication details to support the negotiation of critically ill patient transfers.

A key aimof the CCRS is improved distribution of critically ill patients across the systemto reduce the
concentrated demand on tertiary services by facilitating access to regional services for clinically
appropriate patients. Rural Area Health Services are increasingly able to provide complex critical care
services at regional referral hospitals. Where appropriate, these regional critical care services should be
considered as potential sites to refer critically ill patients thereby improving overall access to ICU/HDU
beds. This statewide networking increases the number of patients able to be managed in regional centres,
and in many cases allowing patients to be cared for closer to their home and family.
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Each individual unit is responsible for ensuring the information in CCRS is correct and current. In addition
to real-time updates on bed status at the unit level the Patient Administration System (PAS) will
automatically update the bed status hourly. Each unit is required to check and verify the unit bed status at
each nursing shift handover.

CCRS enables early recognition of the system approaching capacity;
in this situation all potential patient transfers should be expedited to maximise available bed
capacity.

Non-Critical Patients Requiring Referral for Specialist Care
The role of AMRS does not extend to finding beds and facilitating clinical referral for non-critical patients.
The volume of referrals and multitude of clinical referral networks for non-critical patients does not support
a centralised model. However, it is recognised that in some cases, unless the referral and transfer is timely,
the situation may become critical.

Each Area Health Service has intra-Area and inter-Area clinical networks for non-critical patients requiring
referral for a higher level of specialist care. Formalisation of these networks and an escalation of care
process must be in place to ensure patients who require specialist referral are afforded timely access to
definitive care.

An Area-wide protocol for the escalation of care for specialist referral, approved by the Chief
Executive, which outlines the process and clinical networks, must be in place by February 2011 to
guide the referral of non-critical patient for specialist care.

Patient Flow Units (PFU) support these established networks, facilitate patient referrals for specialist care
and improve access. The NSW Health BedBoard programfacilitates the identification of general and
specialist ward beds to facilitate patient referral and access.

This structure provides the framework for the appropriate intra-Area clinical referral of non-critical patients
requiring a higher and/or more specialised level of definitive care.

Statewide Clinical Specialty Referral Networks

A number of statewide clinical speciality networks operate in tandem with the NSW Critical Care Tertiary
Referral Networks (Adults).

These networks are determined by Statewide and Selected Specialty Services Plans to achieve appropriate
concentration of highly specialised services which can respond to the needs of NSW residents. The
location of these services is determined by a range of factors including the volume of clinical demand,
critical mass issues, workforce and clinical support services and in some cases, the imperative is to achieve
early clinical intervention such as for those patients suffering serious trauma.

NSW Severe Burn Injury Service Referral Network (Adult)

The NSW Statewide Severe Burn Injury Service (Adults) is located at Concord Repatriation General
Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital. Children requiring attention for severe burn injury are cared for
at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead.

Patients with severe burn injury are to be referred according to the NSW Severe Burn Injury Service -
Burn Transfer Guidelines/Burns Transfer Flow Chart available at:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/gl/2008/GL2008_012.html.
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In primary retrieval cases of a combined severe trauma and burn injury in the greater Sydney metropolitan
area, where a helicopter with accompanying doctor has responded, then these patients may be transported
directly to Royal North Shore Hospital if considered clinically appropriate.

Initial care should be provided according to the NSW Severe Burn Injury Service Model of Care
available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2004/burninjurymoc.html

The Childrens Hospital at Westmead receives referrals for children with severe burn injury
according to GL2008_012. Paediatric patients requiring medical retrieval are facilitated by
NETS call: 1300 36 2500

NSW Acute Spinal Cord Injury Referral Network (Adult)

The Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Service (SSCIS) for adults is located at Prince of Wales Hospital and
Royal North Shore Hospital. Children requiring care for acute spinal cord injury are cared for at The
Childrens Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Childrens Hospital. SSCIS is responsible for the
management of patients who have sustained a spinal cord injury where there is persistent neurological
deficit arising fromdamage to neural tissue as a result of trauma, or froma non-progressive disease process
(e.g. transverse myelitis, vascular occlusion, compression by infective process or haemorrhage).

Trauma patients who have sustained a spinal injury with neurological deficit are to be transferred to a
specialist acute spinal injury service at the earliest opportunity, once medically stable. The relevant SSCIS
is to be notified in all cases where a spinal cord injury has been sustained to facilitate referral and transfer
as soon as possible, and to obtain guidance on clinical management.

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NSW Severe Burn Injury Service Referral Network (Adult)

Referring
Area Health Service
Receiving
Severe Burn Hospital

South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra AHS
Sydney West AHS
South Western Sydney AHS
Greater Southern AHS
Greater Western AHS
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Concord Repatriation General Hospital

Burns Registrar/Consultant on-call Ph: (02) 9767 5000 then
page.
Intensive Care Unit Ph: (02) 9767 6404
Burn Unit/Ambulatory Care Ph: (02) 9767 7775 (b/h) Ph:
(02) 9767 7776 (a/h) Fax: (02) 9767 5835
Burns CNC Ph: (02) 9767 5000 then page 60271 Office
9767 7798

Northern Sydney/Central Coast AHS
Hunter/New England AHS
North Coast AHS

Royal North Shore Hospital

Burns Registrar/Consultant on-call Ph: (02) 9926 7111 then
page.
Intensive Care Unit Ph: (02) 9926 8640 or 8642
Burns Unit/Ambulatory Care Ph: (02) 9926 7988 (b/h) Ph:
(02) 9926 8941 (a/h) Fax: (02) 99267589
Burns/Plastics CNC Ph: (02) 9926 8940 or
Ph: (02) 9926 7111 then ask to page


The key element of this referral network is the coordination and facilitation of the bed finding process for
acute spinal cord injuries with neural loss, by AMRS, who will facilitate communication between referring
services and spinal unit clinicians in relation to acute clinical care. This referral process only pertains to
acute spinal cord injuries with neural loss and those spinal cord injuries as defined by the SSCIS. Patients
with vertebral fractures only, are to be referred to a Spinal/Orthopaedic or Neurosurgeon via the existing
referral process for each Area Health Service. AMRS does not find beds for patients with vertebral
fractures only.

The Spinal Cord Injury Referral Network describes specialist spinal services for acute spinal cord injuries
and networked Area Health Services. AMRS is to be contacted to facilitate the medical retrieval of adults
with an acute spinal cord injury on 1800 650 004.

NSW Statewide Spinal Cord Injury Referral Network (Adult)
Referring
Area Health Service
Receiving
Spinal Cord Injury Hospital

South Eastern/Illawarra AHS
South Western Sydney AHS
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Prince of Wales Hospital

Director
Ph: (02) 93822222

Northern Sydney/Central Coast AHS
Sydney West AHS
Greater Western AHS
Hunter/New England AHS
North Coast AHS

Head of Department
Ph: (02) 99267111

Patients with an established and stable spinal injury who require readmission to hospital should be referred
to the local health facility which has the appropriate level of anaesthetic/intensive care service to oversee
and manage any respiratory support requirements.

NSW Major Trauma Referral Networks (Adult and Paediatric)

It is the goal of the NSW Trauma Services Plan to integrate all hospital facilities into an inclusive trauma
network in order to provide definitive trauma care to all injured patients throughout NSW. Patients with
minor to moderate injuries will continue to be managed at the nearest appropriate facility, while patients
with more serious injuries require management at a higher level of care necessitating transfer to a Major
Trauma Service (MTS) for definitive care or a Regional Trauma Service (RTS) as required in the first
instance in accordance with ASNSW Protocol T1. The Trauma Plan is available at:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2009/trauma_services.html.

Paramedics are encouraged to transport all major trauma patients to the highest level trauma facility within
one (1) hour travel time. If the patient has an un-relievable airway obstruction, the patient may be taken to
the nearest available hospital, for urgent resuscitation.

Trauma networks which, are closely aligned with the NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks for
adults, are largely determined by the location of the MTS and the imperative to achieve early clinical
intervention for seriously injured patients in accordance with ASNSW Protocol T1.

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Availability of an ICU bed at the receiving Major Trauma Service/Regional Trauma Service is not to
delay the acceptance of time critical patients for emergency care.

Adults

Details of the adult MTS, the networked RTS and AHS networks are outlined in the following matrix:

NSW Adult Trauma Services Referral Networks
Major Trauma
Service
Regional Trauma
Service
Referring
Area Health Services
John Hunter

Coffs Harbour
Lismore
1

Port Macquarie
Tamworth
Tweed Heads
1

Hunter New England AHS
North Coast AHS
Royal North Shore

Gosford Northern Sydney Central Coast AHS
Liverpool

N/A Sydney South West AHS
Royal Prince Alfred

N/A Sydney South West AHS

St George

Wagga Wagga
Wollongong
South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra AHS
2,3

Westmead

Nepean
Orange
Sydney West AHS
Greater Western AHS
4

1. Owing to proximity, NCAHS maintains a clinical referral network with Queensland.
2. Owing to proximity, Albury also maintains a clinical referral network with Victoria.
3. The Canberra Hospital maintains a referral network for the following hospitals: Batemans Bay, Batlow, Bega, Bombala, Boorowa,
Braidwood, Cooma, Delegate, Moruya, Pambula, Queanbeyan, Tumut, Yass and Young.
4. Owing to proximity, Broken Hill also maintains a referral network with South Australia.

All patients assessed to be suffering severe trauma are to be taken directly to the closest Major Trauma
Service. If travel time is greater than sixty minutes then initially they should be taken to the closest
regional trauma service. There are however, four potential exceptions:

1. In primary cases of an isolated acute spinal cord injury in the greater Sydney metropolitan area,
where a helicopter with accompanying doctor has responded, then these patients may be
transported directly to the relevant specialist spinal cord injury service.
2. In primary cases of a severe burn injury in the greater Sydney metropolitan area, where a
helicopter with accompanying doctor has responded, then these patients may be transported
directly to the relevant specialist severe burn injury service.
3. In primary cases of a combined severe trauma and burn injury in the greater Sydney
metropolitan area, where a helicopter with accompanying doctor has responded, then these
patients may be transported directly to Royal North Shore Hospital if considered clinically
appropriate.
4. In primary cases of a combined severe trauma and acute spinal cord injury in the greater
Sydney metropolitan area, where a helicopter with accompanying doctor has responded, then
these patients may be transported directly to Royal North Shore Hospital if considered clinically
appropriate.
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Paediatric

Prehospital response, triage, clinical management and transport of paediatric patients suffering serious
trauma occurs according to the processes and criteria contained within the ASNSW Protocol T1 (page 56).
Paediatric trauma is included in this Policy Directive due to the application of Protocol T1 to both adult and
paediatric patient groups.

Children aged up to 16 years fitting the criteria in the pre-hospital Protocol T1 (with due consideration
given to paediatric physiological changes) should be transferred, if within the recommended pre-hospital
transport time, to a paediatric MTS capable of providing specialised acute, diagnostic and definitive
paediatric trauma care. These cases are time-critical and need access to definitive trauma care in as timely
manner as possible.

When direct transport to a paediatric MTS is not feasible, the child should be transported to the most
appropriate adult MTS or RTS facility for initial assessment, stabilisation and appropriate transfer. Pre
hospital notification to the ASNSW Operations Centre (Trauma Code 3 MIST), and through activation of
the RLTC model and NETS, will facilitate an early retrieval response to support efficient transfer to a
designated paediatric MTS.

The role of the paediatric MTS in supporting the hospitals within its clinical networks is emphasised here
as it is important that there are adequate skill levels among staff in the emergency department, trauma
services and other key areas as injured children will continue to present to these services. A policy of
compulsory acceptance by the paediatric MTS of all requests for transfer of moderate to severely injured
paediatric trauma patients is in place to ensure optimal care.

Area Health Services currently formpart of the three Child Health Networks which are linked to each of
three paediatric major trauma services as outlined in the following NSW Trauma Services Referral
Network (Paediatric):

NSW Trauma Services Referral Network (Paediatric)
Major Trauma
Service
Child Health
Network
Referring
Area Health Services
John Hunter Childrens Northern Hunter New England AHS
North Coast AHS1
Childrens Hospital,
Westmead
Western Sydney South West AHS (Liverpool, Fairfield, Concord)
Sydney West AHS
Northern Sydney Central Coast AHS (Gosford, Hornsby, Ryde,
Wyong)
Greater Western AHS2
Sydney Childrens
Hospital
Greater Eastern
and Southern
South Eastern Sydney Illawarra AHS
Northern Sydney Central Coast AHS (Manly, Mona Vale, RNSH)
Sydney South West AHS (Balmain, Bankstown, Bowral, Camden,
Campbelltown, Canterbury, RPA)
Greater Southern AHS3
ACT
1. Grafton and north of Grafton will usually refer to Brisbane
2. Referrals fromGreater Western may go to Adelaide due to proximity.
3. Referrals fromGreater Southern may go to Royal Childrens Melbourne due to proximity.

Where there is a need to train and up-skill staff the Area should liaise with the Trauma Network Co-
ordinator and/or Trauma Clinical Nurse Consultant.

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ASNSW Major Trauma Triage Tool

Theaccurateidentification of patients with serious injury and their timely arrival at an appropriatehospital arecrucial to theeffectiveness of thetrauma system. All
trauma patients attended by theASNSW areassessed according to theASNSW Protocol T1 Pre-hospital Management of Major Trauma which is based on theMIST
criteria to trigger a system-wideresponseto a patient suffering major trauma and a maximumsixty minutetravel timeto definitivecareif required and clinically
appropriate.


NSW Rural Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory Referrals

The NSW Rural Health Plan (2002) provided for the establishment of cardiac catheter services for
adults at Tamworth, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour and Lismore. In the event of a critically
ill patient requiring urgent inter-hospital transfer froma rural cardiac catheter service to a tertiary
hospital then the patient will be transferred according to the NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral
Networks (Adults). Critically ill cardiac patients who require transfer for an urgent procedure
(usually interventional cardiology or surgery) will be immediately transferred for this procedure,
regardless of an available ICU or CCU bed.

AMRS will facilitate the transfer and, where an Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) device is required
AMRS, will provide its own device configured for aeromedical transport.

NSW Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Medical Retrieval Service

For adults, an increasing demand for ECMO support has been observed for patients with severe
respiratory failure, who are at the limits of conventional therapy. Improving survival rates of patients
treated with ECMO have led to an increased demand for this support. Often these patients present to
hospitals which do not have ECMO facilities and expertise resulting in a tertiary referral service
performing an ECMO heart - lung rescue.

Patients who may be considered for ECMO are often too sick to safely transport with conventional
equipment therefore the need arises to establish the patient on ECMO and stabilise their condition
prior to transport. The safe management of an ECMO retrieval patient requires a coordinated
response by the referring and receiving hospitals, ECMO team, Ambulance and the medical retrieval
services.

For children in New South Wales, ECMO is provided at the Sydney Childrens Hospital and the
Childrens Hospital at Westmead. Both these centres also refer patients to the Royal Childrens
Hospital in Melbourne most commonly for non-cardiac patients where extended therapy is
anticipated.

For adults, ECMO is provided at tertiary facilities in NSW with Level 6 Cardiothoracic and ICU
services including:

J ohn Hunter Hospital
Liverpool Hospital
Prince of Wales Hospital

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
St Vincents Hospital
St George Hospital
Westmead Hospital

The primary reason for ECMO in these facilities is for cardiac surgery in adults however there has
been an increasing incidence of ECMO being required to support or rescue adult patients in
refractory respiratory failure.

Increasingly in adult cases, ASNSW is being called upon to transport an ECMO clinical team(3
persons) plus necessary equipment to metropolitan and rural based hospitals to stabilise patients on
ECMO. After the patient is established on ECMO, the patient is then transported with a teamof three
(2 x retrieval, 1 x ECMO) to RPA or St Vincents Hospital.

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The three potential transport modalities available are road, helicopter and fixed wing. While road
transport is a viable option using the ASNSW large capacity road vehicles a number of problems are
encountered using this mode of transport due to the extended travel time. An adequate supply of
oxygen, air, suction, and electrical power cannot be maintained for prolonged periods requiring
multiple stops at health facilities to replenish these essential elements of ECMO therapy which in turn
increases the risk of adverse incidents. The ASNSW AW-139 helicopters have been configured to
enable ECMO retrievals.

St Vincents Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, in collaboration with AMRS, provide the
ECMO referral and transfer service and ECMO retrieval teamon alternate weeks. AMRS is notified
of the active ECMO referral service. To organise the referral and transfer of a patient requiring rescue
ECMO the following steps and conditions must be adhered to:

1. Early notification of a patient potentially requiring referral for ECMO is essential and should be
undertaken in accordance with the Indications for ECMO Referral Guideline (page 59).
2. Initial contact is with AMRS who will then contact the active ECMO service (either the on-call
General Intensive Care consultant at RPAH or the Cardiac Intensive Care consultant at SVH).
The receiving hospitals ICU consultant would then discuss the case with the referring
clinician, on-call cardiac surgeon and medical perfusionist.
3. The destination hospital (either SVH or RPAH) will be determined according to the patients
underlying condition, required clinical/surgical intervention and access to an available ICU bed.

AMRS is to be contacted to facilitate all adult ECMO referrals and transportation call: 1800
650 004

Case selection and treatment protocols used during ECMO are now well defined by the international
Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (ELSO). The flow diagramoutlines the indications for
ECMO therapy and referral based on guidelines developed by ELSO and used internationally.

In response to the increasing demand for patient stabilisation on ECMO, medical retrieval and
transfer, and prolonged ECMO support an expert clinical group formed in NSW to provide advice on
service and resource requirements, and to develop the following Indications for ECMO Referral
Guideline which is to be used by all referring clinicians.

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NSW High Risk Obstetric Referrals

The NSW Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Neonatal and High Risk Obstetric) are supported
by the NSW Pregnancy and Newborn Services Network (PSN), the NSW Neonatal and Paediatric
Emergency Transport Service (NETS), the Perinatal and Paediatric Resources System, Pregnancy
Advice Line, evidence based practice and policy and guideline development along with statewide
education resources.

It is expected that AHS will ensure the provision of clinical support, cooperation and appropriate
education between units through current clinical and education staff.

When women have been identified as requiring referral to a high-risk maternity unit, clinicians should
contact the Tertiary Referral Centre in their Network to discuss the care and transfer arrangements.
Consultants at the Tertiary Referral centres should be readily available to discuss clinical issues.
Notification of the ICU team, and communication with the medical retrieval team, should occur early
to ensure all clinical support services are aware and available as required.

Critically injured pregnant women should be managed the same as non-pregnant injured adults and
transferred directly to the most appropriate designated trauma facility in accordance with the
Ambulance of NSW Protocol T1 for trauma triage, management and transportation. A secondary
transfer of the pregnant patient to a facility that has obstetric and neonatal services can occur once
considered clinically appropriate. Early notification to NETS is warranted in this situation.

The Pregnancy Advice Line can be contacted through NETS and the NETS clinicians will be
available to provide clinical support and advice. NETS provides statewide coordination of neonatal
and paediatric retrieval, and compliments the Perinatal Advice Line (PAL) in coordinating difficult or
complex high-risk maternal referral and transfer. PAL is a roster of senior specialists fromtertiary
units who are available for clinical advice.

To contact the Pregnancy Advice Line call NETS: 1300 36 2500

High risk obstetric and neonatal care is provided by level 5 or 6 services. Clinicians will make the
decision as to the most appropriate facility based on patient needs in conjunction with available beds
and resources. Whilst predominantly providing neonatal surgical services, the neonatal intensive care
cots at Sydney Childrens Hospital and The Childrens Hospital at Westmead will be considered when
maternity beds are identified at The Royal Hospital for Women and Westmead Hospital, due to
campus collocation.

The Greater Southern Area Health Service, Greater Western Area Health Service and North Coast
Area Health Service have tertiary obstetric and neonatal links with facilities in the Sydney
metropolitan area. It is acknowledged that these Area Health Services and northern sections of
Hunter New England also have appropriate cross border networked referral arrangements with tertiary
services in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the ACT. The NSW Critical Care Tertiary
Referrals Networks (Neonatal and High-Risk Obstetrics) Policy Directive and the NSW Critical Care
Tertiary Referrals Networks (Paediatrics) Policy Directive will become available in 2010 and will
provide detailed clinical guidelines on the tertiary referral of high-risk obstetric and paediatric
patients.

NSW Statewide Default Adult ICU Bed Policy

Access to emergency care and/or urgent surgical intervention for time-critical patients is not to be
delayed due to no-available ICU bed. AMRS should be contacted immediately for such patients.
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In time urgent situations, the AMRS has the authority to transport the patient directly to the
linked tertiary hospital designated by the default hospital matrix regardless of bed state. If
there is a closer facility that can provide the time-urgent treatment, AMRS may elect to
transport the patient there.

Each Area Health Service is ultimately responsible for meeting the intensive care needs (except for
super-specialty services) of that Area and is responsible for a linked rural Area Health Service, where
specified. In addition, each Area Health Service has a responsibility to ensure that all options for
placement of the patient within the Area have been explored and that all appropriate transfers from
Intensive Care Units to inpatient wards have been made.

The Area Director of Clinical Operations (DCO) is responsible for ensuring formalised intra-Area and
inter-Area referral arrangements exist for critically ill patients needing a higher level of definitive care
and for non-critically ill patients requiring referral for specialist care. Clinical referral and support
processes are transparent and effectively communicated to all staff to ensure patients can access
definitive care in an appropriate timeframe. The AMRS may contact the DCO where necessary to
resolve inter-Area and non urgent transfers.

In situations of high demand, where there are no appropriate adult intensive care beds available
across the system for a non-urgent critical patient then the Default Adult Intensive Care Bed
Policy may be invoked. This step is taken only after thorough assessment has been undertaken of the
intensive care services capacity and intra/inter-Area Health Service critical care referral networks to
ensure all potential referral options have been exhausted.

In the event of the default systembeing activated, the tertiary referral hospital designated by the NSW
Intensive Care Default Hospital Matrix will be responsible for providing critical care, irrespective
of bed status, to a specified group of referral hospitals.

The default matrix has been developed following consultation with Area Health Services, the NSW
Medical Retrieval Committee, Critical Care Health Priority Taskforce, Intensive Care Taskforce and
other key stakeholders. The default matrix is based on a hospital-to-hospital network and does not
necessarily follow the normal Area Critical Care Referral Networks. In specific cases the referring
consultant, medical retrieval consultant and the receiving consultant may decide to refer a patient to a
different hospital which is considered more clinically appropriate for the patients definitive care.

Invoking the Default Adult ICU Bed Policy:
The referring hospital contacts their intra-Area ICU/s to verify there is no capacity to accept the
patient within Area.
All units are to review exit blocked beds, liaise with the hospital executive to have themcleared
and update CCRS
The referring hospital verifies that there are no appropriate available ICU beds as shown on
CCRS.
The referring hospital contacts AMRS who will explore any alternative destination for an
ICU/HDU bed.
Where no appropriate available ICU bed can be identified across the systemthe on-duty
Medical Retrieval Consultant at AMRS will invoke the Default Adult ICU Bed Policy and
contact the receiving ICU Consultant.
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The designated tertiary ICU will accept the patient, irrespective of bed status, as per the Default
ICU Matrix.
AMRS will advise the Director, Statewide Services Development Branch
If AMRS becomes aware of any exit block issues affecting access to ICU/HDU beds, they will
notify the Director, Statewide Services Development Branch who will liaise with the relevant
AHS Executive to address these issues.


Where a patient requires time-critical care, not available at the referring hospital, then the
patient must be transferred immediately to the facility designated by the Default Hospital
Matrix that is able to provide appropriate emergency treatment irrespective of bed status.

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APPENDIX 1 Clinical Referral Networks
JOHN HUNTER HOSPITAL
Hunter New England Area Health Service

Armidale
Barraba
Belmont
Bingara
Boggabri
Bulahdelah
Cessnock
Denman
Dungog
Glen Innes
Gloucester
Gunnedah
Guyra
Inverell
J ames Fletcher
Kurri Kurri
Lake Macquarie (private)
Maitland
Manilla
Manning
Merriwa
Moree
Morisset
Murrurundi
Muswellbrook

Narrabri
Calvary Mater Newcastle
Quirindi
Scone
Singleton
Tamworth
Taree
Tenterfield
Tingha
Tomaree Community (formerly Nelson
Bay Polyclinic)
Vegetable Creek (Emmaville)
Walcha
Warialda
Wee Waa
Werris Creek
North Coast

Area Health Service
Owing to proximity, some northern NCAHS Hospitals also maintain a clinical referral network with Queensland.

Ballina
Bellingen
Bonalbo
Byron
Campbell
Casino
Coffs Harbour
Dorrigo
Grafton
Kyogle
Lismore

Maclean
Macleay/Kempsey
Macksville
Mullumbimby
Murwillumbah
Nimbin
Port Macquarie
Riverlands
Tweed Heads
Urbenville
Wauchope

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Clinical Referral Networks

ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL
Northern Sydney Central Coast
Area Health Service

Castlecrag (Private)
Dalcross (Private)
Gosford
Hornsby
Manly
Mater Misericordiae (Private)
Mona Vale
North Shore (Private)
Royal Rehabilitation
Ryde
Sydney Adventist (Private)
Woy Woy
Wyong

WESTMEAD HOSPITAL

Auburn
Blacktown
BaulkhamHills (Private)
Mt Druitt
St J osephs Auburn
Westmead (Private)

NEPEAN HOSPITAL

Blue Mountains
Hawkesbury
Lithgow
Portland
Springwood

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CONCORD HOSPITAL

Canterbury

LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL

Bowral
Campbelltown
Camden

Bankstown/Lidcombe
Fairfield

Referral Hospital: ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED HOSPITAL
Sydney South West
Area Health Service

Greater Western
1

Area Health Service

Balmain

Balranald
Baradine
Bathurst
Blayney
Bourke
Brewarrina
Broken Hill
Canowindra
Cobar
Collarenebri
Coolah
Condobolin
Coonabarabran
Coonamble
Cowra
Cudal
Dubbo
Dunedoo
Eugowra
Forbes
Gilgandra
Goodooga
Grenfell
Gulgong

Gulargambone
Ivanhoe
Lake Cargelligo
Lightning Ridge
Molong
Mudgee
Narromine
Nyngan
Oberon
Orange
Parkes
Peak Hill
Rylstone
Tibooburra
Tottenham
Trangie
Trundle
Tullamore
Walgett
Warren
Wellington
Wentworth
White Cliffs
Wilcannia
1. Owing to proximity, GWAHS maintains a clinical referral network with South Australia.

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PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL
Sydney South East Illawarra
Area Health Service

Greater Southern
Area Health Service

Prince of Wales (Private)

Boorowa
Crookwell
Goulburn
Murrumburrah-Harden
Young

ST VINCENTS HOSPITAL
Area Health Service
Greater Southern
Area Health Service

St Vincents (Private)
Sydney/Sydney Eye

Coolamon
Cootumundra
Griffith
Gundagai
Hay
Hilston
J unee
Leeton
Lockhart
Narrandera
Temora
Tumbarumba
Wagga Wagga
West Wyalong

85(01/04/10)



ST GEORGE HOSPITAL
Area Health Service
Greater Southern
Area Health Service

Bulli
Kareena (Private)
Milton Ulladulla
Port Kembla
Shell Harbour
Shoalhaven
St George (Private)
Sutherland
Wollongong

Barham
Berrigen
Corowa
Culcairn
Deniliquin
Finley
Henty
Holbrook
J erilderie
Tocumwal
NB. Albury is networked with clinical
services in Victoria however referral to a
NSW facility may be required due to
clinical need.

THE CANBERRA HOSPITAL

Greater Southern Area Health Service

Batemans Bay
Batlow
Bega
Bombala
Braidwood
Cooma

Delegate
Moruya
Pambula
Queanbeyan
Tumut
Yass

85(01/04/10)


APPENDIX 2 Clinical Resource Documents & References

J oint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the
Australasian College of Emergency Medicine: MinimumStandards for Transport of Critically Ill
Patients.
http://www.anzca.edu.au/resources/professional-documents/documents/professional-
standards/professional-standards-52.html

J oint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the
Australasian College of Emergency Medicine: MinimumStandards for Intra-hospital Transport of
Critically Ill Patients.
http://www.anzca.edu.au/resources/professional-documents/documents/professional-
standards/professional-standards-39.html

ICCMU Intensive Care Services Statewide Clinical Guidelines
http://intensivecare.hsnet.nsw.gov.au/five/staffonly/guidelines.php

Rural Adult Emergency Clinical Guidelines 3rd Edition Version 3.1 2012

NSW Severe Burn Injury Service - Burn Transfer Guidelines 2008

NSW Health (2008) Between the Flags Project- The Way Forward (Keeping Patients Safe), Clinical
Excellence Commission, Sydney, Australia.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/initiatives/btf/index.asp

NSW Health (2009) Selected Specialty and Statewide Service Plans- NSW Trauma Services NSW
Health, Sydney, Australia
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2009/trauma_services.html

85(01/04/10)



AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA (HYPERREFLEXIA) (Information Bulletin 2001/1)

Autonomic dysreflexia, or hyperreflexia, is a massive uncompensated cardiovascular reaction of the
sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous systemto visceral stimulation that occurs in people
with spinal cord injury at or above thoracic level 6 (T-6).

Autonomic dysreflexia is an emergency condition that requires emergency attention. It can
cause a rapid rise in blood pressure that may lead to stroke and death.

It has come to the attention of the NSW Department of Health that, despite education sessions for
clinical staff about autonomic dysreflexia, this can still be a poorly diagnosed condition.

The Department urges all Area Health Services and the NSW Ambulance Service to review and, if
necessary, improve the education of hospital medical and nursing staff and ambulance officers about
autonomic dysreflexia.

A protocol for the management of autonomic dysreflexia should be included in Emergency
Department triage protocols.

The attached emergency protocol for treatment of autonomic dysreflexia was produced by the Royal
North Shore Hospital Spinal Unit and Illawarra Regional Hospital with the support of the Australian
Quadriplegic Association.

It is requested that this information be brought to the attention of all relevant hospital medical and
nursing staff and ambulance officers.

Copies of the emergency protocol may be obtained fromthe Australian Quadriplegic Association on
1800 819 775 or (02) 9661 8855.


EMERGENCY

TREATMENT CARD
FOR
AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA
(HYPERREFLEXIA)

This person in susceptible to a condition known as Autonomic Dysreflexia (Hyperreflexia) which
commonly affects individuals with spinal cord injury at or above the 6
th
thoracic level.

AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA IS A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
REQUIRING IMMEDIATE
TREATMENT

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

A triggering sensory stimulus initiates excessive reflex activity of the sympathetic nervous system
below the level of the spinal cord injury, causing vasoconstriction and a rapid rise in blood pressure,
which is uncontrolled due to isolation fromthe normal regulatory response of the vasomotor centres
in the brain.

Parasympathetic activity occurs when the rise in blood pressure is sensed by baroreceptors in the
aortic arch and carotid bodies resulting in compensatory slowing of the heart and dilation of blood
vessels above the level of injury. If not recognised or treated promptly the blood pressure may rise to
dangerously high levels and precipitate intracranial haemorrhage, seizures or a cardiac arrhythmia.

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Sudden Hypertension
Pounding Headache
Bradycardia (slow pulse rate)
Flushing/blotching of the skin
Sweating above spinal injury level
Goose bumps
Chills without fever
Nasal stuffiness
Blurred vision (dilation of pupils)
Shortness of breath and associated anxiety

N.B. This group of spinal injured individuals normally has a BP in the range of 90-100/60 lying and
possibly lower still, sitting. Patients may become symptomatic with a BP in the normal range. If
untreated this can rapidly rise to dangerously high levels.


COMMON CAUSES

Bladder - distended or severely spastic bladder, urinary tract infection, urological procedure or even
inserting a catheter.

Bowel - distended rectum, enema irritation.

Skin - pressure sores, burns, ingrown toenails, tight clothing.

Other - irritating stimuli include fracture, renal stones, epididymo-orchitis, distended stomach, labour,
severe menstrual cramping.

TREATMENT

Remember: this is a medical emergency, do not leave the patient alone. One person should monitor
blood pressure while another provides treatment.

1 Initial Steps

Elevate the patients head and lower the legs. (This will help lower B.P. while cause is identified.)

Ask patient if they suspect a cause.

Loosen any constricting clothing.

Check bladder drainage equipment for kinks or other causes of obstruction to flow, such as clogging
of inlet to leg bag or overfull leg bag.

Monitor BP every 2-5 minutes.

Avoid pressing over the bladder. Gentle percussion will reveal bladder distention.

Further Treatment

If symptoms persist or blood pressure remains elevated following the above efforts, or a cause cannot
be identified, medical anti-hypertensive treatment (see 5) should be commenced on currently with
search for and treatment of the noxious stimulus.

3a For a person with an indwelling catheter

If a blocked catheter is suspected, empty the leg bag and estimate volume. To determine if the
bladder is empty or not, consider patients fluid intake and output earlier that day and normal pattern
of drainage.

If catheter seems blocked, irrigate the bladder GENTLY with no more than 30mls of sterile normal
saline.

If urine does not drain after irrigation, recatheterise using a generous amount of lubricant containing a
local anaesthetic, e.g. lignocaine (Xylocaine) jelly.


3b For a person wearing a uridome or doing intermittent self catheterisation

If the bladder is distended and patient is unable to void in their usual manner, lubricate the urethra
with a generous amount of lignocaine (local anaesthetic) jelly, wait two minutes and then pass a
catheter to empty the bladder. Leave catheter insitu until reason for retention is identified and
remedied.

N.B. If blood pressure declines after bladder is empty, the person stills requires close observation as
the bladder can go into severe contractions causing hypertension to recur (see Pharmacological
Treatment).

For Faecal Evacuation

If you are sure that the bladder is empty and symptoms persist, gently insert a generous amount of
lignocaine jelly into rectum. Wait five minutes before gently inserting a finger to remove faecal
matter.

N.B. Monitor BP closely during digital stimulation and if blood pressure increases significantly,
cease digital stimulation and only recommence under cover of Nifedipine (see below).

Pharmacological Treatment

(a) Nifedipine (Adalat caps) should be given by puncturing a 10mg capsule (or alternatively, 2x5mg
capsules), squeezing contents into mouth with capsule and assisting with swallowing. This dose
may be repeated after 10 minutes.

Glyceryl Trinitrate (Anginine) is an alternative, preferably as a sublingual spray.

(b) If hypertension is not relieved by Nifedipine or Glyceryl trinitrate, then administration of
parenteral anti-hypertensives will be required in an acute hospital setting.

(c) Where control of the noxious stimulus is difficult, regional epidural anaesthesia may be
appropriate.

If hypertension recurs in the presence of an indwelling catheter then:

i) Instil lignocaine (Xylocaine) for injection (10mls of 1% solution) via a catheter, flush with a
further 10mls of saline and clamp for 5 minutes. This can be repeated 2
nd
hourly for 6 doses if
necessary.

ii) Administer an oral anticholinergic e.g. Oxybutynin (Ditropan).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND FOLLOW UP
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR NEAREST SPINAL INJURIES UNIT:

New South Wales
Royal North Shore Hospital (02) 9926 8700
Prince Henry Hospital (02) 9382 5555

Queensland
Princess Alexandria Hospital (02) 3240 2215


Victoria
Austin Hospital (03) 9496 5000

South Australia
Hampstead Centre (08) 8222 1625

Western Australia
Royal Perth Rehabilitation Hospital (09) 382 7171

This patient aid was produced by the
Royal North Shore Hospital Spinal Unit and Illawarra Regional Hospital
with the support of the Australian Quadriplegic Association.

AQA
1800 819 775
(02) 9661 8855

MATERNITY CLINICAL CARE AND RESUSCITATION OF THE NEWBORN INFANT
(PD2008_027)

This policy should be read in conjunction with
PD2005_256 newborn infants with respiratory maladaptation to birth - observation and
management
PD2010_069 Critical Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Perinatal)
PD2011_076 Deaths Review and Reporting of Perinatal Deaths

NSW Department of Health has based this policy on the evidence-based guidelines for resuscitation
of the newborn infant published by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) (2006) Guidelines
for Neonatal Resuscitation 13.1-13.10. Copies are available fromNSW Health and NSW Pregnancy
and Newborn Services Network.

This policy has been developed by an expert clinical group convened by the NSW Pregnancy and
Newborn Services Network (NSW PSN). The policy has been endorsed by the NSW Maternal and
Perinatal Committee.

The health systemwill use the ARC Guidelines with the suggested amendments to develop clear local
policies and procedures for clinical care and resuscitation of the newborn infant. These local policies
will establish standards of practice and serve as a foundation for staff education and training
programs.

In this context, newborn means the first minutes to hours following birth
i
.

Introduction

Resuscitation of the newborn presents a different set of challenges fromresuscitation of the adult or
even the older infant or child. Transition fromfetal to extrauterine life presents unique physiological
challenges for the newborn infant. The effect of gestational age on the development of the lung and
pulmonary circulation influences how newborn infants at different gestational ages are resuscitated.
Although most babies achieve this transition fromfetal to extrauterine life without difficulty, a
minority (<10%) require some degree of active resuscitation at birth.

68(7/08)


While the need for resuscitation of the newborn infant can often be predicted, the need may also arise
suddenly and in any birth setting. Policies and procedures for resuscitation of the newborn infant
which establish evidence-based standards of clinical practice and underpin staff education and
training programs play an important role in reducing perinatal morbidity and producing quality
neonatal outcomes.

Section 1

As recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
ii
, local policies
and procedures must be prominently displayed in each Maternity Unit and be made readily accessible
to all medical, midwifery, nursing and paramedical staff attending routine and emergency births. This
includes home birth attendants, flight nurses and Ambulance Service Officers of all grades. The
flowchart attached has been developed for prominent display to provide visual cues for the provision
of newborn resuscitation (Appendix A). In particular
Statements covering special resuscitation circumstances such as pretermbirth (<37 weeks),
multiple birth, maternity emergencies must be developed in keeping with the Hospital Role
delineation.
The local policies must also direct that appropriate assessment must occur of every woman for
antepartumand intrapartumconditions associated with risk to the newborn infant.
The local policies must also direct that evaluation of every newborn infant should occur, to
assess the need for resuscitation. These will include: Visual inspection for meconiumon the
skin, vigorous cry, respiratory effort, muscle tone, colour and gestation (term, preterm);

Section 2

NSW Health supports the ARC guidelines 13.1- 13.10 however has identified some differences
that need to be addressed in local policy and practice documents. The variances from ARC
(2006) that are to be included in local policy are as follows:
Newborn Resuscitation training is mandatory for all clinical staff in services providing
maternity care to ensure all staff, who may be called upon to provide birthing services, possess
the necessary knowledge and skills to initiate basic newborn resuscitation which includes
manual ventilation using bag and mask and cardiac compressions.
Direction that a person trained in advanced neonatal resuscitation

must be on call for low risk
and in attendance for all high-risk births.
Information that relates to the components of a complete set of resuscitation equipment and the
required checking procedure to ensure it remains operational. This must include instructions for
use of all equipment, including the radiant warmer. A list can be found in ARC Guideline 13.1
page 4/6.
Infants less than 28 weeks gestation must not be dried before wrapping in heat resistant
polyethylene bags or wrap to maintain normothermia.

68(7/08)
A person with the knowledge and skill to perform advanced airway manoeuvres, including endotracheal intubation and a person with
advanced vascular access skills including umbilical vein catheterization.


In NSW SodiumBicarbonate and Naloxone H must not be on the neonatal resuscitation trolleys
however should be readily available in all units for ongoing stabilisation of a newborn by
trained personnel.**
Reference must be made to the need for special consideration of infants born with meconium
stained liquor. There is no evidence to support suction on the perineum or routine intubation.
If the newborn infant has absent or depressed respirations suction is to be initiated with
endotracheal intubation and use of meconiumaspirator under direct laryngoscopy. This must
be brief and not compromise the infant further.
When pressure limited flow driven devices (e.g. Neopuff) are used policy must include the use
of them and note these should be used only when a self-inflating bag (Laerdel) bag is available
as back up.
If a pressure limited flow driven device (e.g. Neopuff) is used the positive inspiratory pressure
(PIP) should be set at 20-30 cmH2O to commence resuscitation, and adjusted as required to
achieve chest movement.
Air should be administered as part of the resuscitation process however 100% O2 should be
available if there is no response in heart rate by 90 seconds. The flow rate should be set at 8-
10L/min**.
Any newborn infant that requires Naloxone needs to be observed appropriately in a nursery
until the risk of apnoea has been eliminated.
In the resuscitation of a newborn infant born unexpectedly without signs of life, airway support
can be instituted with a bag and mask or T piece and mask (Neopuff) device until more
experienced personnel* are available to determine further resuscitative methods.
Any infant who has been intubated must be extubated in the presence of experienced personnel
and observed closely.
An Orogastric tube (Size 8FG) must be inserted and air aspirated to facilitate decompression of
the stomach of any newborn requiring prolonged ventilation.

In addition

Statements on ethical issues, such as circumstances where non-initiation or discontinuation of
resuscitation in the delivery roommay be appropriate. These statements must be consistent
with the hospitals Role Delineation
iii
, local resources and outcome data and must emphasise the
need to include parents in the process of decision-making.
Emphasise the need for early consultation and collaboration between parents and all caregivers
(general practitioners, midwives, neonatologists, obstetricians and paediatricians) where there
may be a need for active resuscitation.
68(7/08)

** It should be noted that almost all research done in the last decade has focussed on terminfants compromised by mild to moderate
intrapartum asphyxia. It cannot be assumed that air is of greater benefit than 100% O2 for infants affected by extreme prematurity, severe
intrapartum asphyxia, intrapartum sepsis or at risk of pulmonary hypertension following delivery through meconiumstained liquor.
Furthermore, the studies comparing air with 100% O2 for newborn resuscitation have not reported long term neurodevelopmental outcomes.


Local procedures for implementation of NSW Health Policy Directive PD2010_069 Critical
Care Tertiary Referral Networks (Perinatal) must be in place.

Section 3

Local policies must include:
Continuing care of the infant and family after active resuscitation, including supportive care,
continuous observation and appropriate diagnostic evaluation of the infant
Provision of information and support to the parents
Procedures for documentation of resuscitation interventions and responses that:
Contribute to an understanding of the infants pathophysiology and possible further
treatment;
Can be used for audit and peer review purposes to monitor resuscitation outcomes and
improve resuscitation performance and training;

Section 4

A staff education and training programis mandatory and must include provision of training:
in orientation programs for all new staff providing birthing services and working with
newborns;
annual continuing education and staff development programs;
that includes theoretical and practical components;
that includes mechanisms for an annual assessment of competence in resuscitation of the newly
born infant;
attendance at the Fetal welfare Obstetric emergency Neonatal resuscitation Training (FONT)
Maternity Emergency and Neonatal Resuscitation one day Training is mandatory for all
clinicians privileged or appointed to practice Obstetrics, Registered Midwives and Student
Midwives under the supervision of a Registered Midwife, once every three years. This one day
of education is acceptable as part of the annual accreditation.

Further information on staff education, training programs and policy development in neonatal
resuscitation is available fromthe NSW Pregnancy and Newborn Services Network on 02 9351 7318.

1
ILCOR (2005)
ARC (2006)+-
2
NHMRC (1996) Clinical practice guidelines. Care around preterm birth. AGPS: Canberra. p.120-122
3
NSW Health Department (2002). Guide to the role delineation of Health Services

68(7/08)


Flow Diagram for the Newborn requiring Resuscitation

Birth
Good Tone, Crying, Pink, Term
Routine Care
Dry
Keep warm (skin to skin)
Maintain airway
Assess breathing and HR
Yes
Dry, Keep warm, Maintain airway
Assess Breathing and Heart Rate
**
Regular respirations and HR >100
- routine care. If cyanosed but
breathing - free flow oxygen
Heart Rate <100 or inadequate
breathing
Give Positive Pressure Ventilation at 40-60 breaths per minute for 30 seconds or til
HR >100 or regular breathing **
No
30 secs
30 secs
HR <60 or Inadequate breathing
Assess Airway (Neutral position) and Breathing (Chest movement)
If HR <60- commence CPR with IPPV, 3 compressions to 1 breath for 30 seconds
then reassess **
Yes
No
30 secs
HR <60 or Inadequate breathing
Assess Airway (Neutral position) and Breathing (Chest movement), and CPR
technique
If HR <60- Adrenaline 0.1-0.3ml/kg of 1:10,000 via UVC/ETT
Consider fluid bolus 10ml/kg normal saline
Repeat 3-5 minutely
Always maintain Airway, Breathing and CPR **
30 secs
Yes
No


HOSPITAL RESPONSE TO PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PART 1: EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT RESPONSE (PD2007_048)

Section 1: Overview

Introduction

This document describes the response of emergency departments (EDs) and multi purpose services
to an influenza pandemic. For simplicity, when the termemergency department is used in this
document, it refers to all facilities in NSW with an emergency department, and all multi purpose
services.

Due to the wide variability of health care facilities in New South Wales (NSW), a document such
as this cannot be entirely prescriptive. Rather, it should be seen as a guide for developing and
implementing a local response to pandemic influenza. Strategies will need to be implemented at
each facility to ensure they meet the objectives described in this document.

The two main stages of the pandemic response are the containment stage and the maintenance of
social function stage.

In the containment stage, the emphasis is on slowing the spread of a pandemic to reduce the
burden on the health systemand to buy time for the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine.
The main strategies in this stage are to:
prevent people with pandemic influenza entering Australia
find people with pandemic influenza, isolate them, and treat themwith antiviral medication
trace the contacts of these people, provide themwith antiviral prophylaxis, and quarantine
them.

A close liaison between clinicians and public health unit (PHU) personnel is vital for containment
to be successful.

The maintenance of social function stage will occur when the resources required for containment
are exceeded. In this stage, the key role of EDs will be to manage the potentially large number of
patients with pandemic influenza who require high level medical care.

A response to an influenza pandemic will require the mobilisation of resources fromacross the
area health services (AHSs), particularly during the later stages. Each AHS will be required to
develop plans to operationalise the ED response to an influenza pandemic at all facilities with an
ED.

The Hospital Response to Pandemic Influenza. Part 1: Emergency Department Response
document should be read in conjunction with the Interim National Pandemic Influenza Clinical
Guidelines and Interim Infection Control Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza in Healthcare and
Community Settings, which are appendices to the Australian Health Management Plan for
Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI) (J une 2006).

Overview of emergency department response to an influenza pandemic

EDs have a key part to play in the response to an influenza pandemic in NSW, particularly in their
role in activating enhanced ED triage and influenza screening stations.
64(2/08)


To respond to the changing nature of an influenza pandemic, a graded response to the threat will
be required. This response will range fromthe establishment of enhanced ED triage (when a new
influenza strain is reported to be causing clusters of human disease with human-to-human
transmission overseas) to the establishment of ED screening stations (when there is a high
likelihood that a patient meeting the case definition will present to an ED). Once there are clusters
of cases in Australia that exceed (or are expected to exceed) the capacity of EDs such that a
broader AHS response is required, stand-alone influenza clinics will be established. The role of
stand-alone influenza clinics will be to see suspected pandemic influenza patients who are not in
need of high-level ED care. Stand-alone influenza clinics will not provide high-level emergency
care; this role will be maintained by the EDs.

The NSW Department of Health (NSW DoH) will request initiation and escalation of response
through the AHS chief executives. The NSW DoH will define the level of the operational
response required, which will depend upon the epidemiological characteristics of the disease,
including the extent of pandemic influenza overseas, transmissibility of the pandemic influenza
virus, and the level of morbidity and mortality resulting fromthe new influenza strain.

Table 1 summarises the levels of response required and the drivers that will determine the need for an
increase in the level of response. All NSW public and private hospitals with EDs will be required to
initiate the response described in this table. Each facility will need to consider their own
circumstances and devise strategies to ensure they meet the response objectives.

64(2/08)


Table 1. Description, drivers for activation, and purpose of emergency department (ED) response to an influenza pandemic
Response Description Drivers for activation Purpose
Enhanced
emergency
department
(ED) triage
initiated
Additional screeningconductedat the
usual ED triagepoint, basedon anup-
to-datecasedefinition.
Declaration of overseaspandemic alert phase4
1
(OS phase4) - clusterswith
human-to-humantransmission overseas - wheretheclustersareoccurringin a
relatively isolatedregion. (If first clustersareinamajor centreoverseas, a
movedirectly to pandemic influenzascreeningstationsmay berequired.)
Containment stage
To decreasetherateof transmission of pandemic influenzainthecommunity, general practice
surgeries, hospitals andother healthcarefacilities by:
ensuringrapididentificationandisolation of suspected cases
allowingdiagnosisand treatment of cases withantiviral agents, if indicated
providingalinkagewiththepublic health responseof contact tracingandprovisionof anti viral
prophylaxis
allowingcollection of epidemiological andclinical data to informclinical management andpublic
health decisions.
ED pandemic
influenza
screening
station
established
Pandemic influenzascreeningstation
establishedat theentranceto ED to
identify patientswho meet the
pandemic influenzacasedefinition
beforethey enter thewaitingroom.
No cases inAustralia(Australian pandemic alert phase0-3) but outbreaks
occurringinareasoverseasfromwhichit issignificantly likely that peoplewill
betravellingto Australia.
Widespreadoutbreaksoverseas.
Significant morbidity and mortality frompandemic influenzaoverseas.
Declaration of Australianpandemic alert phase4 (i.e., clusterswithhuman-to-
humantransmissioninAustralia).
Containment stage
Asfor enhanced ED triage, andto allow ahigher level of vigilancethanprovidedby enhancedED
triageinlight of an increasedlikelihoodof pandemic influenzacasesbeing encountered.
Stand-alone
influenza
clinic8
established.
ED pandemic
influenza
screening
station
established/ma
intained.
A separateinfluenzaclinic facility
establishedto identify andtreat those
who meet thecasedefinitionfor
pandemic influenza.
Note: aninfluenzascreening station at
theentranceto ED will still needto be
maintained.
At containment stage
ED capacity to isolateandmanagesuspectedcases isexceeded.

At maintenance of social function stage
Inability to containpandemic influenzaoutbreaks(resultingindeclaration of
maintenanceof social function stage).
Declaration of influenzapandemic (Australianphase6b).
Containment stage
Asfor enhanced ED triage, andto allow effectivemanagement of anincreased number of pandemic
influenzapatients.

Maintenance of social function stage
To providestandardisedassessment, triage, andmanagement of patientswithsuspectedpandemic
influenza.

To reducepatient presentations to EDs and general practices, thereby allowingthosefacilities
to continuetheir corebusiness andreducetherisk of transmission withinthosesettings.
To collect epidemiological datato monitor progress of thepandemic andinformoptimal resource
allocation.

1
This assumes that apandemic starts overseas. If a pandemic starts in Australia, an elevated level of responsewill beimmediately required.
2
Thegovernancestructureof thestand-aloneinfluenza clinic will need to bedetermined by thearea health service(AHS) and identified in AHS and facility plans.


Activation of enhanced triage, influenza screening stations and influenza clinics

The NSW Chief Health Officer (CHO) will notify the AHS chief executives of the change in the
pandemic alert level and instruct AHSs to activate one of the ED response strategies listed below.
The response will depend on the phase of the pandemic alert, the number and location of people
with pandemic influenza, and the epidemiology of the new influenza virus. The three levels of
response are:
enhanced triage within EDs
separate pandemic influenza screening stations
stand-alone influenza clinics (note: if a stand-alone influenza clinic is required, screening
stations will still need to operate at the entrance to the ED).

Activation of enhanced triage within EDs will be required within 8 hours of notification;
activation of ED screening stations will be required within 12 hours, and activation of stand-alone
influenza clinics within 48 hours. The NSW DoH will require confirmation by AHS chief
executives that activation has occurred.

A pandemic influenza case definition to be used for screening purposes will be provided to all
AHSs at, or shortly after, the formal request to activate an ED response. The new case definition,
and subsequent case definitions, will be available on the NSW Health intranet and internet
websites, and will be found immediately after the Netepi login page. Netepi is a web-based public
health data collection and management system.

A detailed breakdown of the ED pandemic influenza response, according to the containment and
maintenance of social function stages, is provided in Section 2 of this document.

Governance structure

The governance structure for the various response levels will need to be determined by individual
AHSs and outlined in the AHS plan.

Patient disposition

Following assessment of patients clinical condition, likelihood of complying with home isolation,
and ability to care for themselves, patients will be either admitted to hospital and isolated or
discharged for self-care in home isolation. The decision to discharge a potentially infectious
patient must be made in consultation with the PHU and relevant specialists. Patients must remain
in isolation (in hospital or at home) until an alternative diagnosis is made or the infectious period
is over.

If admitted to hospital, the patient may be admitted to either the hospital to which the patient has
presented or to another hospital in accordance with AHS plans for suspected and confirmed cases
of pandemic influenza. If admitted to hospital, the patient should be cared for in a single room.
Patients with confirmed pandemic influenza should also be cared for in a single room; however, if
insufficient single rooms are available, patients with confirmed pandemic influenza can be
cohorted and isolated in a separate ward or wing of the hospital. The number of staff who come
into contact with the patient should be minimised.

64(2/08)


The collection of clinical and demographic information required to facilitate contact tracing by the
PHU will be an important activity in the ED response. The investigation does not have to be
carried out in the ED, but it is important that the patient is kept in isolation at the facility while this
investigation is being carried out.

Accompanying persons

It is likely that patients who are suspected of being infected with pandemic influenza will present
with accompanying persons. In all but exceptional circumstances (e.g., where the suspected case
is a child) accompanying persons who do not meet the case definition should be provided with
information about pandemic influenza, have their contact details collected and provided to the
PHU, and (upon advice of the PHU) be sent to home quarantine. The PHU will provide advice
about the management of accompanying persons.

If the ED clinician decides that it is necessary for an accompanying person to remain with the
patient, advice must be sort fromthe PHU before the accompanying person is allowed into the
isolation roomwith the suspected case.

Management procedures for persons accompanying children presenting to a childrens hospitals
have not yet been finalised. This document will be updated when these procedures are available.

Section 2: Response levels

Enhanced emergency department triage

During the containment stage - when small clusters of human-to-human transmission of the new
influenza virus have been reported overseas (WHO Overseas phase 4, Australian phase 0-3) - all
facilities with emergency departments (EDs), and multipurpose services, will be required to
commence enhanced ED triage with screening for pandemic influenza. Screening is to be
performed at the beginning of the ED triage process, and provision must be made for the isolation
and management of suspected pandemic influenza patients in single rooms. To ensure the safety
of health care workers, screening should be conducted frombehind a physical barrier such as a
glass screen or by keeping more than a metre away fromthe patient. If this is not possible, full
personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn.

Operating requirements

Once advised to activate enhanced ED triage screening, a senior medical or nursing staff member,
as designated in the AHS pandemic influenza plan, will be required to ensure:
correct signage is displayed
an up-to-date version of the case definition is available
all presentations to ED are screened for pandemic influenza during the triage process
there is a one-way flow of suspected pandemic influenza patients through the ED
the availability of at least one single roomto be used for isolating a suspected case of
pandemic influenza (this roomshould be selected beforehand and identified in the AHS
pandemic influenza plan)
there is an adequate stock (20-100, depending on the facility size) of P2 masks and other
PPE for use by the doctor/nurse(s) assessing and managing the suspected case(s), and that
these staff use the PPE appropriately
PPE stock is replenished as required

64(2/08)


a medical officer (or experienced nurse where no medical officer is normally available) is
nominated to assess person(s) meeting the case definition. The staff member should be
familiar with the case definition and with protocols for diagnosis, clinical management and
infection control
the PHU is contacted immediately upon identification of a suspected case
viral swabs (as per testing algorithm) are readily accessible (the designated person should,
ideally, be experienced in taking nose and throat swabs for viral testing, given the
importance of obtaining a quality specimen for an urgent influenza test)
surgical masks and hand washing facilities (or alcohol-based gel) are available for use by
the suspected pandemic influenza case(s)
screening staff have access to hand washing facilities and/or alcohol-based gel and wash
their hands frequently
availability of anti-influenza medication for treatment of pandemic influenza patients (this
should be detailed in the AHS pandemic influenza plan)
an appropriate cleaning regime in accordance with infection control guidelines is in place to
disinfect areas potentially infected.

Operating procedure

The procedure for enhanced ED triage is described below. A flow diagramsummarising the
process is shown in Figure 1.

Step 1: Screen
At first contact, all patients are to be asked the up-to-date pandemic influenza screening
questions.
If a patient meets the case definition, proceed to Step 2. If a patient does not meet the case
definition, the triage process continues as normal.
Refer to Figure 2 for a more detailed description of the screening process.

Note 1: In facilities where the implementation of enhanced ED triage is not possible (e.g., in
facilities that do not have a permanently staffed ED), different strategies will need to be
implemented to keep pandemic influenza out of the facility. Strategies may include an early move
to setting up a screening station at the entrance to a facility.

Note 2: Once enhanced ED triage is implemented, ambulance officers will screen all patients
upon pickup and report identified suspected pandemic influenza cases to facilities prior to arrival.
Section 3 of this document provides more information on the role of ambulance officers in
response to pandemic influenza.

Note 3: When there is an outbreak or outbreaks of pandemic influenza overseas but not in
Australia (WHO Overseas phase 4 or above, Australia phase 0-3) the epidemiological screening
questions (on travel history) are to be asked before the clinical questions because they are the more
specific discriminators and because they can be asked while keeping a safe distance. Once cases
are identified widely in Australia (implying that overseas travel/contact with someone who has
travelled overseas to the affected areas ceases to be the discriminating factor) travel history will be
removed fromthe case definition and clinical features will prevail.

64(2/08)


Step 2: Isolate
If a patient meets the case definition, treat themas a suspected case of pandemic influenza:
provide them with a surgical mask, instruct themto wash their hands, and isolate them
immediately in a single room. If a single roomis not available, cohort pandemic influenza
patients in such a way that risk of transmission is minimised.

Note: If a patient with suspected pandemic influenza has not been triaged immediately on arrival
at the ED, the contact details of all the people within the ED waiting room(including other
patients and staff) who have been in contact with the suspected case must be recorded in case
pandemic influenza is later confirmed and contact tracing is required.

Clean the triage area as per infection control guidelines.

Step 3: Assess/manage
Continue subsequent assessment and management of the patient with suspected pandemic
influenza in a single room. If the patient requires immediate medical intervention, this
should be performed in the single roomwherever possible.
Obtain demographic information for the patient.
Performa clinical assessment.
Obtain appropriate specimens for laboratory testing. Details relating to the collection of
microbiological specimens can be found in Pandemic Influenza - Interim Response Protocol
for NSW Public Health Units. For viral specimen collection, one viral swab (not a bacterial
swab) fromthe right nostril, one viral swab fromthe left nostril and one viral swab fromthe
throat (i.e., three swabs in total) are required.

Step 4: Notify/consult
If the suspected case still fits the case definition, notify the PHU of the suspected case by
telephone and provide details of information collected to date. PHU staff are available 24
hours a day in all areas of NSW; contact details are available in the AHS pandemic
influenza plan or via the AHS switchboard or the NSW Health intranet contact directory.
Consult with PHU staff and infectious disease and/or other relevant physicians regarding
diagnosis and continued management of the suspected case.
Obtain advice fromthe PHU about where specimens should be sent.

Step 5: Send specimens
Following consultation with the public health unit and infectious disease physician, and
confirmation that the patient meets the case definition for pandemic influenza, send
specimens.
Specimens are to be labelled suspect case of pandemic influenza.
The hospital laboratory is responsible for notifying the reference laboratory and ensuring the
urgent transport of the specimens to the reference laboratory for specific detection of the
pandemic influenza strain. The two reference laboratories in NSW are the Institute for
Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) at Westmead, and the South East
Illawarra Area Laboratory Service (SEALS) at Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick.

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Other specimens (including microbiological specimens) should be processed following
usual procedures.
Specimens are to be packaged and transported in accordance with the National Pathology
Accreditation Advisory Councils Requirements for the packaging and transport of pathology
specimens and associated materials. (The National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council
guidelines can be found at)
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/npaac-pub-transp-path-spec-drft

Step 6: Treat
If there is a high index of clinical suspicion for pandemic influenza, assess the patient for
contraindication to anti-influenza medication and consider administering the first dose of
treatment while awaiting the pathology result (given the importance of administering anti-
influenza medication as early as possible after symptomonset), and certainly within 48
hours.
If reference laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis is likely to take longer than 8 hours, it
is recommended that the first dose of anti-influenza medication be administered as soon as
possible.

Step 7: Admit/discharge
If the pandemic influenza test is positive or a diagnosis of pandemic influenza cannot be
excluded, admit the patient to hospital or, following assessment of the patients clinical
condition and ability to comply, discharge themto home isolation. Discharge of potentially
infectious patients must be made in consultation with the PHU and relevant specialists.
If a decision has been made to admit the patient and they do not require further care in the
ED, they can be transferred out of the ED and into a single roomelsewhere in the facility.
Further clinical and public health follow up can occur in that single room.

64(2/08)


Figure 1. Flow diagram for the screening, assessment and management of a suspected
pandemic influenza case in the emergency department
Does the
patient meet the
pandemic influenza
case definition?
NO YES
Step 1:
Screen
Step 2:
Isolate
Step 4:
Notify/consult
Step 3:
Assess/manage
Step 5:
Send specimens
Step 7:
Admit/discharge
Patient presents to emergency department
(self-referred, by ambulance or via
general practitioner)
Screen for pandemic influenza at triage,
using screening questions and
pandemic influenza case definition
Don full personal protective equipment,
including P2 mask.
Give patient a surgical mask to wear.
Ask patient to wash their hands.
Place patient in an isolation room.
Notify
public health unit.Consult with public health unit
staff and infectious disease physician
Perform clinical assessment and collect case
history. Obtain swabs of nose and throat,
if patient still meets the case definition
Depending on advice from the public health
unit and infectious disease physician, notify
receiving laboratories
1,2
and arrange urgent
transport of specimens
Depending on clinical condition,
patient compliance, and stage of pandemic alert,
admit to hospital or discharge to home isolation
until pandemic influenza is excluded
or infectious period is over
Continue normal
assessment and
management of patient
Treat with anti-influenza medication if indicated
Step 6:
Treat
For more detail see the expanded flowchart for screening for pandemic influenza on following page
1 Early in the pandemic response, all pandemic influenza specific tests will be performed at either the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical
Research (ICPMR) or the South East Area Laboratory Service (SEALS). As case numbers increase diagnostic capacity will be boosted by
recruitment of other laboratories.
2 Tests other than those specifically for pandemic influenza should be carried out using the usual processes.
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Figure 2. Flow diagram of the screening process for pandemic influenza
64(2/08)
NO
YES
Step 1:
Screen
Patient presents to ED (self-referred, by
ambulance or via general practitioner)
Ask pandemic influenza screening questions
at ED triage or ED screening station
Continue with normal
triage, assessment and
Cough and
fatigue?
Temperature
38
o
C, or history
of fever?
5
Contact
3
with case of
pandemic influenza, or
anyone with an undiagnosed
influenza-like illness
4
that has
returned from a pandemic
affected area
1
in the
last X days?
2
Travel to a
pandemic affected
area
1
in the last
X days?
2
Take patient's temperature
YES NO
YES NO
NO YES
1 Pandemic affected areas may change rapidly. The most up-to-date listing of pandemic affected areas will be found in the case definition provided
to hospitals and public health units, or at http://www.who.int/en/.
2 Number of days will depend on the epidemiological characteristics of the virus, including the incubation period and infectious period. This
information will be included in case definitions provided to hospitals and public health units. If these values are not known, the default number is 7
days.
3 Contact is defined as having been within one metre of an infectious case, or in physical contact with a case or their respiratory droplets or
secretions (see AHMPPI 2006 Annex: Interim National Pandemic Influenza Clinical Guidelines, pg 32 for more detail on definition of a contact).
4 An influenza-like illness is characterised by an abrupt onset of symptoms that includes fever and cough, and one or more of: headache, fatigue,
sore throat, mylagia (muscle pain), chills and shortness of breath.
5 A history of fever includes either i) a recent temperature of 38
o
C (within the last 24 hours) as measured and reported by the patient, or
ii) a description of chills and sweats, or a feeling of being hot, or hot and cold.
Follow steps 2 to 7
as per figure 1
NO


Emergency department screening stations

Screening for influenza using screening stations at the entrance to EDs (or in smaller facilities
without permanent EDs, at the entrance to the facility) will commence when the likelihood of
patients with pandemic influenza being encountered has increased to a stage that warrants
screening of all people presenting to an ED before they enter the ED waiting room, and before
they are triaged. This is expected to occur when Australia pandemic alert phase 4 is declared
(clusters of cases with the new influenza strain with human-to-human transmission are reported in
Australia) or when cases have not yet been reported in Australia but are occurring in major
regional transport hubs. Activation of screening stations will be required within 8 hours in
metropolitan and base hospitals and within 12 hours in rural hospitals. It is expected that close
monitoring of epidemiological data will provide advanced warning that an elevation of response
will be required.

It is possible that some parts of the state will establish ED screening stations, while others that are
less likely to see patients with suspected pandemic influenza because of their distance fromthe
reported cases of influenza, will continue with an enhanced ED triage response.

The driver for the activation of ED screening stations is principally an assessment that the new
influenza virus poses an increased and imminent risk to NSW health facilities. This risk will be
assessed based on the epidemiological characteristics of patients identified with the new influenza
virus, the number and location of people with confirmed pandemic influenza , and the threat to the
local area.

It is acknowledged that a number of very small facilities will not be able to implement screening
stations. These facilities will need to be identified in AHS plans and will need to develop
strategies locally to meet the objective of keeping pandemic influenza out of their facilities.
Strategies may include screening through intercom, facility lock down, or advance screening by
telephone.

A cascaded approach to ramping up a broader whole-of-facility response to keeping pandemic
influenza out of facilities will be implemented according to the level of threat. This will include
limiting entry and exit points to facilities; limiting visitor number and times that visitors can enter
facilities; postponing elective and non-urgent treatment for persons returning frompandemic
influenza-affected areas; and screening staff. A policy designed to keep hospitals safe fromthe
threat of pandemic influenza is being developed.


In essence, an ED screening station is similar to the enhanced ED triage response, and the
operating requirements are also similar. The significant difference is that with a screening station
the screening for pandemic influenza will occur at the entrance to the ED and not at the normal ED
triage point. Screening stations will need to operate 24 hours and screen all patients and
accompanying persons who present to the ED. The location and management of this screening
station will be described in the AHS pandemic influenza plan.

Operating requirements and procedure

The operating requirements for ED screening stations are similar to those for enhanced triage,
described in Section 2.1, except that a screening table, chairs and, if appropriate, shelter will be
required.

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The operating procedure is also similar, apart fromthe changes and additions listed below.

Step 1: Screen
All patients and accompanying persons attending the ED must be screened at the influenza
screening station located at the entrance to the ED.
All patients presenting are to be asked screening questions based on an up-to-date pandemic
influenza case definition.
If the patient does not meet the case definition, the patient proceeds to triage as normal.

Note: All staff at pandemic influenza screening stations must wear full PPE while screening and
the screening station must be disinfected in accordance with infection control guidelines each time
a suspect case is identified.

Steps 2 to 7

If the patient meets the case definition, follow steps 2 to 7 (isolate, assess/manage, notify, send
specimens, consult, treat, admit/discharge) as outlined in the enhanced ED triage operating
procedure described in Section 2.1.

Refer to Figure 2, above, for a summary of the process of screening for pandemic influenza.

Stand-alone influenza clinic (during containment stage)

Stand-alone influenza clinics will commence operation in a location separate fromthe ED when
the number of people with suspected pandemic influenza exceeds the capacity of the ED to isolate
and manage them appropriately.

Stand-alone influenza clinics will require activation within 24 hours of notification in metropolitan
and base hospitals and within 48 hours in rural and remote hospitals. It is expected that close
monitoring of epidemiological data will provide advanced warning of the need to activate stand-
alone influenza clinics.

During the containment stage, the key roles of a stand-alone influenza clinic will be to continue
the process of containing the spread of pandemic influenza by enabling the rapid identification,
isolation, and management of patients with suspected pandemic influenza, and to expedite follow
up of their contacts by the PHU. Stand-alone influenza clinics will relieve the patient load on EDs
by assessing and managing patients who do not require high-level care in an ED, thus allowing
EDs to continue their core role of treating critically ill patients.

Stand-alone influenza clinics will not have the capacity to provide high-level emergency care; EDs
will maintain this role. If a patient with suspected pandemic influenza is sick enough to require
high-level emergency care, they will need to be transferred to the ED.

Stand-alone influenza clinics will need to be prepared to operate 24 hours per day and have their
own dedicated workforce.

Stand-alone influenza clinics will initially be established on hospital campuses. As the number of
people affected by pandemic influenza increases, stand-alone influenza clinics may need to be
established at other sites.

64(2/08)



A stand-alone influenza clinic during the containment stage will performthe same function as the
enhanced ED triage and screening station, but operate on a larger scale. The driver for
establishing a separate influenza clinic is an increase (or anticipated increase) in the numbers of
patients that meet the pandemic influenza case definition, or an increase in the numbers of patients
presenting at EDs in order to be screened for pandemic influenza.

Note that a screening station will still be required at the entrance to the ED when a stand-alone
influenza clinic is in operation. Refer to Figure 3, following, for a summary of screening
procedures for pandemic influenza at EDs when stand-alone influenza clinics have been activated.
The procedures are described in more detail in the next section.

Operating procedure

Patients are likely to present at the stand-alone influenza clinic via two mechanisms:
after being screened and triaged at an ED, or
having come directly to the influenza clinic (see Figure 3).

The text below describes operating procedures for both the ED pandemic screening station and the
stand-alone influenza clinic.

(i) Patients presenting to the ED pandemic influenza screening station

Step 1: Screen
All patients and accompanying persons attending the ED must be screened at an influenza
screening station located at the entrance to ED.
All patients and accompanying persons presenting need to be asked screening questions
based on an up-to-date case definition for pandemic influenza.
If the patient does not meet the case definition they should be instructed to proceed through
the hospital systemas normal.
Patients that meet the pandemic influenza case definition and are not in need of emergency
treatment should be provided with a surgical mask and asked to wear it, be asked to wash
their hands and then sent to the separate stand-alone influenza clinic for treatment.
Patients that meet the pandemic influenza case definition and that are in need of emergency
treatment should be triaged and treated in a single room in the ED.

Steps 2 to 7

Follow steps 2 to 7 (isolate, assess/manage, notify, send specimens, consult, treat,
admit/discharge) as outlined in the enhanced ED triage operating procedure above.

Refer to Figure 2, above, for a description of the process of screening for pandemic influenza.

(ii) Patients presenting to the stand-alone influenza clinic after being screened and triaged at
an ED

Step 1: Identify screened patients

All patients and accompanying persons presenting to the stand-alone clinic after being screened
and triaged at an ED need to be identified and placed in a separate queue.
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Steps 2 to 7

Follow steps 2 to 7 (isolate, assess/manage, notify, send specimens, consult, treat, admit/
discharge) as outlined in the enhanced ED triage operating procedure above.

(iii) Patients presenting directly to the stand-alone influenza clinic

Step 1: Screen

Patients and accompanying persons presenting directly to the stand-alone influenza clinic need
to be screened to ensure that they meet the case definition:
If the patient meets the pandemic influenza case definition, they should be triaged and, if
not in need of high-level emergency treatment, should be assessed and managed in the
stand-alone influenza clinic
If the patient meets the pandemic influenza case definition, they should be triaged and, if
in need of high-level emergency treatment, directed to the ED.
Patients that do not meet the pandemic influenza case definition should be re-directed to the
ED, other health care providers (a GP for example) or sent home. Patients that do not meet the
influenza case definition should not be treated in an influenza clinic.

Steps 2 to 7

Follow steps 2 to 7 (isolate, assess/manage, notify, send specimens, consult, treat, admit/discharge)
as outlined in the enhanced ED triage operating procedure above.

Stand-alone influenza clinic (during maintenance of social function stage)

The maintenance of social function stage of an influenza pandemic will be declared when it is no
longer possible to contain the spread of the new influenza virus in the community. Once the
maintenance of social function stage of the pandemic is declared, the purpose of stand-alone
influenza clinics will change significantly, moving froma focus on containment (identification
and isolation of patients, and quarantining of contacts) to a focus on maintaining essential health
service delivery.

During this stage, stand-alone influenza clinics will operate as influenza triage, assessment, and
management facilities for potentially large numbers of sick people. The stand-alone influenza
clinic staff will determine whether the patient requires admission to a hospital or staging facility,
or whether they can be discharged home with community follow-up as required. Laboratory
testing for pandemic influenza will not routinely occur during this stage (unless the patient is
hospitalised). Contact tracing will no longer be carried out. Current national policy is that
stockpiled anti-influenza medications will be available for pre and post exposure prophylaxis and
not for treatment of patients. However, this may change as the size of the stockpile is increased.


The scope and capacity of the maintenance of social function stage stand-alone influenza clinics
will be determined by a number of factors including the epidemiological characteristics of the
virus, the availability of anti-influenza medication for the treatment of cases and the availability of
an effective vaccine.

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Operating procedure

The procedure for operating a stand-alone influenza clinic during the maintenance of social
function phase will be significantly different to those for previous response levels.

Staff in a stand-alone influenza clinic will:
refer patients in need of high-level emergency care to an ED
manage patients based on a clinical, rather than laboratory, diagnosis of pandemic influenza
administer anti-influenza medication within 48 hours of symptom onset if medication is still
available for treatment of patients, treatment is clinically indicated and there are no
contraindications for treatment
determine whether admission to a hospital, a staging facility, or discharge into home
isolation with community follow-up, is required
if discharging a patient to home care, provide appropriate advice to patient and carer(s) and
refer for community follow-up.

A flow diagramsummarising case management during the maintenance of social function stage is
shown in Figure 3, below.

64(2/08)


Figure 3. Flow diagram for the screening, assessment and management of patients with suspected
pandemic influenza during the maintenance of social function stage.

Does the
patient meet the
pandemic influenza
case definition?
NO
Step 2:
Triage
Step 3:
Assess/manage
Step 5:
Admit/discharge
Patient presents to emergency department (ED)
(self-referred, by ambulance or via general
practitioner)
Screen for pandemic influenza
Perform further assessment
and management in the
influenza clinic as indicated
Assess need for admission to hospital or overflow facility
3
based on clinical condition, level of functional independence,
and level of community support
Continue normal
assessment and
management
Step 4:
Treat
Can
ongoing assessment
be managed in the
influenza
clinic?
Does the
patient meet the
pandemic influenza
case definition?
NO
Step 1:
Screen
Patient presents to stand-alone influenza
clinic (self-referred or via general practitioner)
Screen for pandemic influenza
Isolate and perform further
assessment and management
in the ED as indicated
If available and clinically
indicated, presumptively treat with
anti-influenza medication
2
Discharge home
1
If available and clinically
indicated, presumptively treat with
anti-influenza medication
2
Admit
to hospital
Discharge to home care with
community support and follow-up
Admit to
overflow facility
3
1 If the patient appears unwell or requires/requests further assessment, refer to a general practitioner or the nearest emergency department.
2 The current Australian policy for anti-influenza medication use during the maintenance of social function stage, is that if available, these
medications will be used for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis of workers considered to be at high risk through direct contact with influenza cases
(see Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza, J une 2006, page 51).
3 Overflow facilities are temporary facilities for the accommodation and care of patients, when it is impractical to manage them at home or in a
hospital. The role of these facilities will vary according to the severity of the pandemic but would, in general, be the provision of supportive care
rather than the provision of high-level interventions.
Transport to
stand-alone
influenza clinic
Does
patient require
high-level
emergency
care?
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
Transport to
ED
NO
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Role of other health service providers

Role of general practitioners

The key role of general practitioners (GPs) during an influenza pandemic is to ensure that their
usual primary health care services are maintained. If pandemic influenza is suspected in a patient,
GPs are encouraged to provide the patient with a surgical mask, refer the patient to an emergency
department (ED) or influenza clinic immediately, and notify the ED or influenza clinic that a
suspect case has been referred. All suspected pandemic influenza patients should be referred to an
ED or influenza clinic as these facilities have the capacity to appropriately assess and manage
pandemic patients, access rapid diagnostic tests and anti-influenza medication, and contain further
spread of infection.

An exception to this rule will occur in rural and remote areas where GPs may be the only health
service provider, or be involved in providing ED response at a local facility. AHSs should plan
with GPs as to what the GPs role will be, and how the GPs usual primary care role is to be
maintained, particularly during the maintenance of social function stage of an influenza
pandemic.

The NSW DoH will provide information to all GPs when a change in pandemic alert phase occurs.
This information will include advice to refer suspected pandemic influenza patients to EDs and
will direct GPs to refer to the NSW DoH website to ensure they are up to date with current case
definitions and protocols (e.g., infection control). GPs will also be asked to immediately notify
their PHU and ED of any patients with suspected pandemic influenza that they identify and refer.

Role of Aboriginal Medical Services

In metropolitan areas, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) will be encouraged to refer patients
that meet the pandemic influenza case definition to EDs. In rural areas, a case-by-case assessment
to define the role of AMSs will need to be undertaken, taking into account access to ED facilities,
the capacity for isolation and management of patients, and the normal role of the AMS.

AHSs will be required to advise AMSs within their boundaries of any change in the pandemic
alert phase or pandemic influenza case definition.

Role of private hospitals that provide emergency department services

The Hills Private Hospital, Kareena Private Hospital and Sydney Adventist Hospital are the only
private hospitals in NSW that have EDs. These hospitals will be required to activate enhanced ED
triage and ED screening stations at the same time as public hospitals. AHSs are responsible for
notifying private hospitals within their boundaries whenever a change in pandemic alert phase and
case definition occurs. The mechanismfor notifying private hospitals and the role of private
hospital EDs during an influenza pandemic, are to be described in the individual AHS influenza
pandemic plans.

Role of the NSW Ambulance Service

Once enhanced ED triage is activated, NSW ambulance officers will screen all patients (that are able
to be screened) for pandemic influenza on pick-up and, if a case is identified, will (if appropriate)
provide the patient with a surgical mask and notify the ED of the suspect case in advance. When ED
screening stations are activated, patients that cannot be screened will be presumed to be a suspect
case of pandemic influenza, and treated accordingly until proven otherwise. The Ambulance Service
of NSW is developing a protocol to guide this process.
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The Ambulance Service of NSW is also in the process of developing a protocol defining when
ambulances transporting patients who have been identified as suspected pandemic cases should by-
pass smaller facilities.

The Ambulance Service of NSW will be involved in the transport of suspected and confirmed
pandemic influenza patients between facilities. Protocols to cover this are being developed.

Role of pharmacies

The primary role of pharmacies during all stages of an influenza pandemic is to continue to provide
their normal pharmaceutical services. Pharmacies in rural and remote areas in particular should plan
for the need to continue to provide essential medicines during an influenza pandemic.

The NSW DoH will notify NSW pharmacies of a change in pandemic alert phase and the pandemic
influenza case definition via the Pharmacy Guild. Pharmacies will be encouraged to refer patients
that meet the case definition to the nearest public hospital ED.

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PUBLIC HEALTH REAL-TIME EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SURVEILLANCE
SYSTEM (PHREDSS) PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT RESPONSE GUIDELINES (GL2010_009)

PURPOSE

These guidelines describe the purpose and activities of the ED Surveillance Teamin monitoring
PHREDSS and reporting to Public Health Units (PHUs). It also describes the reasons that a
PHREDSS Situation Report will be sent to a PHU and provides guidance for PHUs in considering
activity in response to a PHREDSS Situation Report.

KEY PRINCIPLES

PHREDSS provides daily monitoring of ED visits presenting with various health problems grouped
into syndromes. Each PHREDSS signal is assessed by the ED Surveillance Teambefore further
reporting. The ED Surveillance Teamissue a Situation Report via electronic mail to relevant
Departmental and Area Health Service public health authorities for consideration if one or more of
the following criteria are met:
A higher than expected or sustained increase in ED visits (an unseasonal increase) for a
syndrome;
A significant change in the epidemiology of a syndrome (such as the age or sex distribution);
An increase in the severity or urgency of the ED visits for a syndrome (based on admission
status or triage category);
An increase in an inherently severe syndrome such as meningitis/encephalitis, critical care
admissions or deaths in ED; or
An increase in a syndrome of particular interest to a stakeholder or stakeholder group (eg.
influenza-like-illness, gastrointestinal illness, annual childhood asthma epidemics, drug or
alcohol misuse).


The level of response froma PHU to a PHREDSS Situation Report should be graded according to:
the apparent size of the increase in the syndrome reported;
the severity of the illness being caused;
the opportunity for intervention by the PHU; and
any existing local knowledge.

NSW Department of Health may direct or provide guidance for a coordinated response.

PHREDSS provides daily monitoring of ED visits presenting with various health problems. Using
the information transferred to the Departments PHREDSS database, computer programs
automatically prepare statistical reports that highlight unusual trends in a range of acute health
problems. Situation reports arising fromthe systemare sent by PHREDSS personnel using
electronic mail to relevant Departmental and Area Health Service public health authorities for
consideration.
94(08/07/10)


Surveillance Objectives
To provide early warning of increases in disease activity in the population that may not be
evident through other routine surveillance.
To provide situational awareness and supplement other information on trends in acute
disease and injury in the NSW population.
To monitor syndrome epidemiology to assist the development and monitoring of prevention
strategies for the causes of these syndromes.

Response options for the PHU receiving the situation report:

The level of response should be graded according to the apparent size of the increase, severity of
illness being caused, opportunity for intervention and local knowledge. The NSW Department of
Health may direct or provide guidance for a coordinated response.

Assessment should:
Consider other available information such as notifiable disease reports, the presence of
demographic changes through mass gatherings or similar events.
Include case characteristics, such as: number of people affected, seasonality, age, sex, place
of residence and severity of illness (as measured by increases in triage urgency or the
proportion of patients being admitted for further treatment or being admitted to a critical care
illness). Further information relating to a situation report can be obtained fromthe
PHREDSS teamor directly fromthe PHREDSS reports or other PHREDSS query tools (see
next page).

Responses may include:
For sharp increases in the number of ED visits apparently caused by infections or toxins,
contacting the relevant ED director, (and other relevant personnel who managed the cases) to
determine the likely cause of the increase and unless there is a good alternative explanation,
encourage testing for likely causal agents on patients presenting over the next few days with
similar syndromes.
consultation with the relevant policy branch of NSW Health for advice.
for diseases, including seasonal disease, where alerts to other clinicians or the public are
considered likely to assist in prevention of further cases, the issuing of alerts through fax
streams or the media.

Heightened surveillance

Options are available for heightened surveillance for planned events, such as mass gatherings, or
emergencies. For planned events, several weeks notice is required. Options include: increased
frequency of data updates; regular line listings of available data; reduced level at which increased
activity is signalled, or creation of additional syndromes. For regular events, comparison with
equivalent event days rather than the same weekday may be possible.

PHREDSS uses statistical methods to signal unusual occurrences in daily or weekly counts of ED
visits categorised into a range of related diagnosis groupings. Each signal is assessed by the
PHREDSS teambefore further reporting. Data available at 12 midnight on the previous day are
included in the analysis. Total counts of ambulance arrivals, critical care ward admissions and ED
deaths are monitored as well as diagnoses to identify large increases in severe illness. Reports are
checked in the morning and afternoon on weekdays and mornings only on weekends and public
holidays.
94(08/07/10)


PHREDSS personnel evaluate each signal before issuing a situation report, as follows:
Has there been a recent increase in ED visits?
Is the increase expected at this time of year (a seasonal increase)?
How big is the increase compared with both recent and seasonal activity?
Has the epidemiology of the syndrome changed (such as the age or sex distribution)?
Has the severity or urgency of the visits increased (based on admission status or triage
category)?
How long has the increase been sustained?
Is the diagnosis grouping inherently severe, such as meningitis/encephalitis, critical care
admissions and ED deaths?
Is the phenomenon of known interest to our stakeholders? E.g.: influenza-like-illness;
gastrointestinal illness; annual childhood asthma epidemics; and drug or alcohol misuse.

The PHREDSS teamissues a situation report if the answers to these questions justify informing
relevant health stakeholders. The reports generally provide an overview summary along with a
description of how the recent epidemiology compares with usual epidemiology. The
epidemiological factors include age, sex, mode of arrival at ED, triage urgency, departure status
fromED, locality of patient residence.

PHUs can view the PHREDSS reports directly. Various tools to assist with line listing review and
statistical analysis (NetEpi Analysis) and keyword searches to identify patient visits meeting
certain presentation criteria are available fromthe home page of the PHREDSS reports. Available
fields for each ED visit include: medical record number (for some hospitals); date and time of
arrival; mode of arrival; presenting problemand triage nurse assessment; triage urgency category;
mode of separation; and ED diagnosis. Patient names, addresses and dates of birth are not
recorded.

The PHREDSS reports home page is available fromthe Biosurveillance link at:

hoist.health.nsw.gov.au (NB: this is on the intranet, not the internet).

A username and password are required, which can be obtained by completing the one-page form
available at:

hoist.health.nsw.gov.au/Acumen_biosurveillance_confidentiality_agreement.pdf

and returning by facsimile to HOIST Support on: (02) 9391 9232.

For further information about PHREDSS please send an email to: [email protected]

94(08/07/10)


RETRIEVAL HANDOVER (ADULTS) (PD2012_019)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Policy is to confirmthe process to ensure a coordinated handover and transfer of
care between hospital clinicians and medical retrieval teams. Compliance with this Policy will
minimise the chances of adverse events during handover of adult retrieval patients between hospital
and retrieval teams.

A medical retrieval is defined as the interhospital transfer of an acutely or critically ill patient by a
teamthat includes a medical (physician) escort. The majority of medical retrievals are done by teams
with specific training, equipment and experience in out-of-hospital care for critically ill patients.
These teams belong to medical retrieval services that are recognised and authorised by NSW Health.

This policy is intended for use by senior clinical medical and nursing staff in critical care areas of
hospitals, particularly the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Units. The procedures for
retrieval handover are regarded as a safe and appropriate approach for the efficient handover of
clinical care of adult patients between the retrieval teamand the senior clinician at the hospital.

Timely and efficient handover of clinical care of patients between the retrieval teamand the senior
clinician at the hospital should occur before the transfer of management begins (unless urgent
resuscitation is required) to ensure a systematic transfer of patient care. The full transfer of care is
completed once all monitoring and therapies are safely established and this is verbally confirmed by
the teamwho are taking over the care of the patient.

This Policy is complements Clinical Handover Standard Key Principles (PD2009_060) which
mandates the implementation of standard principles for all types of clinical handover.


This policy requires all health services to have local guidelines/protocols for retrieval handover in
place for all hospitals and facilities involved in the transfer of care of adult patients between hospital
and retrieval teams.

IMPLEMENTATION

Chief Executives must ensure that health facilities implement a process for retrieval handover to
ensure the safe transfer of patient care between retrieval teams and hospitals.

151(26/04/12)


Attachment 1: Retrieval Handover (Adults)

151(26/04/12)

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CHAPTER 6 EMERGENCY CARE

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