Lessons learned from relocating an acute surgical unit to a new quaternary referral centre in Adelaide, South Australia: a tale of two hospitals

• DOI: 10.1111/ans.15498
• Publication Date: 2019-10-22T05:21:24Z
• Authors: Dylan R. Barnett; Ha Lu; Ben Finlay; Charlie Coventry; Nelson Granchi; Matthew Marshall‐...; Paul Heitmann; Christopher Dobbins
• Keywords: Acute care; Triage

On 4 September 2017, patient care was relocated from one quaternary hospital that closing, to another proximate greenfield site in Adelaide, Australia, this becoming the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. There are currently no data inform how best transition hospitals. We conducted a 12-week prospective study of admissions under our acute surgical unit determine impact on key performance indicators. detail results and describe compensatory measures deployed around move.Using standard proforma, were collected indicators for patients referred by emergency department (ED). This supplemented obtained operative management software coding medical records build database analysis.Five hundred eight admitted during period. Significant delays seen times referral, review leaving ED. Closely comparable time spent suite. Uptake Ambulatory Care Pathway fell 67% Rapid Access Clinic 46%. Overall mortality length stay not affected.We found interface with ED most affected. Staff encountered difficulties familiarizing environment an anecdotally high number presentations. Delays referral resulted extended Once theatre, pre- post-transition. likely early identification requiring operation, close consultant surgeon involvement robust working relationships between surgeons, anaesthetists nurses.