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About Older Persons Evaluation, Review and Assessment (OPERA)

The Older Persons Evaluation, Review and Assessment (OPERA) program at Westmead Hospital places the older person at the centre of the care pathway.  The philosophy of OPERA is to supplement other aspects of health care to minimise the impact of disease and disability on the personal independence and autonomy of the older person.

OPERA is designed on the principles outlined in the 'Framework for Integrated Support and Management of Older People in the NSW Health Care System 2004/06'.  Its purpose is to reduce the waiting and treatment time for older people, reduce access block and improve the process of care by giving older patients, their families an carers, options that are designed to maintain and restore an older person's function and independence.

The secondary gains of OPERA program are to:

  • Create a safe health care environment for older people.
  • Improve access to aged care specialists and support services in the hospital and the community.
  • Improve consumer satisfaction.
  • Coordinate better care for older people.
  • Obtain efficiency gains for the health system including management of the ED, hospital capacity and demand pressure.
 

The OPERA model of care works in conjunction with a range of other innovative and evidence based models of care at Westmead Hospital.  These models are specifically designed to cater to the needs of older people.

 

Implementing OPERA

 

 

This page was created on 15th Mar 2007 and was last updated on 3rd Mar 2010