Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2022
Algorithm for the use of the Guardianship Act, the Mental Health Act and the Public Health Act in emergency departments in New South Wales.
To address frequently asked questions regarding the use of the Guardianship Act, the Mental Health Act and the Public Health Act within New South Wales EDs and present an algorithm to guide the use of this legislation. ⋯ This paper offers an algorithm that can be easily followed for use in EDs across New South Wales.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2022
'Dalarinji': A flexible clinic, belonging to and for the Aboriginal people, in an Australian emergency department.
Equity and access to high-quality healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people has remained refractory for complex and multifactorial reasons, and there are sound ethical arguments for addressing this urgently. In EDs all patients who 'leave at own risk' (LAOR) or 'do not wait to be seen' (DNW) are at increased risk of readmission, morbidity or death. This also incurs additional resource costs to the health system. Aboriginal patients have high rates of DNW and LAOR. The Flexiclinic model of care was co-designed to better support the needs of Aboriginal patients in the ED and to reduce the rates of DNW and LAOR. ⋯ The Flexiclinic approach has significantly improved medical care at SVHED for Aboriginal patients. It has been well received by both staff and patients and has had no adverse effects on delivery of services to other patient groups.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2022
Peer support work for people experiencing mental distress attending the emergency department: Exploring the potential.
This study explored the benefits and limitations of employing peer support workers, who utilise their own lived experience of mental distress and recovery, to support people experiencing mental distress who are attending the ED. ⋯ This study identified that peer support workers would bring important skills to an ED (e.g. empathetic support, de-escalation). However, significant workforce and organisational support would be required.