Referral and Information Centre (RIC) Model of Care
The Hunter New England Area Health Services has established a Referral and Information Centre for the Newcastle cluster of community health services. It aims to improve access to timely, safe, consistent and appropriate level health care information and advice to clinicians and the community. The RIC improves the care journey of patients and support clinicians in their role as health care providers. It is able to direct and coordinate between services and users and provides advice that reflects local services. The establishment of a single entry point health contact centre such as the RIC is a service delivery solution designed to address the changing health care environment using highly trained staff and sophisticated technology.
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| Jenny lives in a small seaside township, has three teenage children and supports her elderly parents Bridget and Joseph. | Joseph is being treated for cancer. He is at home now but continues to deteriorate. Bridget is frail but wants to care for Joseph at home with Jenny's help. | Recently Jenny visited her GP as she needs some help with Joseph. He weighs 80 kg and Jenny can't help him get out of bed. Jenny's GP called the RIC to access nursing assistance. | After talking to the GP, the RIC nurse spoke directly to Jenny get more information. The RIC nurse arranged for a personal care assistant to help Jenny with her father's personal hygiene, and a community nurse to assess the level of other assistance needed. | The RIC nurse re-contacted the GP for a service request for the palliative team to visit Joseph immediately. She also arranged a mobility assessment with a physiotherapist and a Home Modification assessement with an occupational therapist. | By the end of the day the RIC nurse has been able to identify and arrange access to range of locally based services and support mechanisms to help Jenny to support her parents comfortably in their home. |
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Implementing RIC Model of Care - Guidelines, Tools and Hints
Guidelines, Tools and Hints to help implement the Referral and Intake Centre Model of Care.
Contacts - to find out more about this model
Susan Brownlowe
Manager, Referral and Information Centre CARE Network
Ph: 0409 662 320 Fax: 02 4925 7950
E-mail: Susan.Brownlowe@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Literature - that validates the Referral Intake Centre Model of Care
View literature used to develop the Referral Intake Centre Model of Care.
