Geriatric Rapid Acute Care Evaluation (GRACE) Model of Care
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Service (HKHS) has developed the Geriatric Rapid Acute Care Evaluation (GRACE) model of care to improve the health care journey of aged care residents. Under the GRACE model hospital staff work in collaboration with general practitioners and aged care facilities to avoid hospital admissions and reduce access block and length of stay for older patients at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospital. Data indicates that GRACE is having positive effects and enhancing the journey of aged care facility residents. It is also helping to improve communication and trust between the hospital, general practitioners and aged care facilities.
Implementing GRACE
Use these implementation guidelines, tools and hints to help you to make GRACE happen.
What is GRACE?
Residents of aged care facilities get access to rapid treatment and appropriate care either in the hospital or their home environment under the GRACE model of care
There is strong evidence that treating nursing home and hostel residents in the home improves their outcomes. While the benefits of caring for residents in their home rather than a hospital are increasingly recognised, facilities are often challenged in managing acute and sub-acute illness.
Under GRACE, hospital staff work in collaboration with general practitioners (GPs) and aged care facility staff to provide enhanced care “at home” for aged care facility residents. There is provision of hospital resources not traditionally available to aged care facilities. When hospital admission is necessary, GRACE patients are given access to rapid treatment to ensure their hospital stay is as short as possible. Key to the model is the GRACE CNC who takes responsibility for the telephone triage service and case manages all patients.
GRACE aims to:
- supporting GPs and aged care facilities with enhanced hospital resources to provide care “at home” and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
- reduce the average length of stay of aged care facility residents in the ED and hospital.
- collaborate with the GPs and aged care facilities to develop a model of care that:
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- provides a decision support system
- provides hospital resources to assist with assessment and care provision
- provides coordinated management plans.
- increase the profile and uptake of Advance Care Directives in aged care facilities.
Download the GRACE Model of Care 
pdf (994k)
Contacts - to find out more about GRACE
- Assoc Professor Sue Kurrle
Geriatrician, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
Phone: (02) 9477 9245
Email: skurrle@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
- Jenny Houston
Project Manager, Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE)
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
Phone: (02) 9477 9354
Email: jhouston@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Literature - that validates the GRACE Model of Care
