January 19, 2022
In response to Victoria’s COVID Peak Surge Status and the activation of a state-wide code brown, the Emergency Departments at Footscray and Sunshine will be altering the COVID Model of Care.
The COVID Peak Surge Model of Care aims to:
At a high level, the altered model of care removes the process of streaming patients by COVID risk and replaces it with streaming by acuity (high acuity v low acuity).
Patients will be streamed to a High or Low Acuity cubicle according to triage category and a defined set of clinical criteria.
High and Low Acuity Zones
SHED:
Adult Acute Area = High Acuity Zone – twenty four points of care
Short Stay Unit = Low Acuity Zone – twenty four points of care
FHED:
Red and Yellow = High Acuity Zone – twenty four points of care
Blue and Fast Track = Low Acuity Zone – twelve points of care
Nursing ratios:
Nursing ratios will be altered to optimise care for high acuity patients. A a ratio of 1:3 will be maintained in the high acuity area and 1:1 in the resuscitation zone. In the low acuity zone the Nursing ratio will be between 1:4 and 1:6, with additional alternative staffing resources being deployed to the low acuity area.
Infection prevention principles:
The following strategies will be implemented throughout the department:
Full details of the COVID Peak Surge Model of Care can be found here:
COVID Peak Surge Status Model of Care
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