Our Residential In Reach (RIR) is an acute referral service that aims to provide clinical assistance and support for residents at residential aged care facilities (RACFs).
Key points
- We provide care and support to clients in RACFs as an alternative to coming to the emergency department
- RIR is a free service staffed 7 days a week by Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNCs) and Geriatricians (specialist doctors skilled in the care of older people with complex health issues)
- We accept referrals from RACFs, GPs, Locum doctors, Ambulance Victoria, Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), emergency departments and hospital wards
What we do
RIR is an acute referral service that aims to:
- provide assistance for residents at RACFs through acute support, early intervention and patient-centred health care
- reduce potentially avoidable presentations to the emergency department
RIR is not intended to replace the primary care provided by general practitioners (GPs).
Contact us if you:
- are unable to access the resident’s GPs (or if the GP is requesting additional RIR support)
- are considering sending a resident to the emergency department
- need assistance to perform a procedure
- need timely clinical advice
Who we are
Our team of highly trained nurses have advanced clinical skills and experience. They liaise closely with consulting geriatricians from the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), as well as other appropriate community services.
What we offer
- Assessment and management of acutely unwell or deteriorating residents
- Initial treatment with intravenous therapies (diuretics, antibiotics) - with referrals for ongoing support as needed
- Acute palliative care support
- Review of falls and injuries
- Emergency and routine care of PEG, SPC and IDC
- Trial of void (TOV)
- Specialist geriatrician consultation to support GP with complex medical issues/care
- Iron infusions (requires GP referral)
- Assessment and management of delirium
- Support and Advice for Residents with Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms (BPSD) of Dementia
- Acute wound management advice
- Post-hospital support to help eligible patients safely transition from a hospital admission to a residential facility
Assessment
The assessment comprises an initial comprehensive consultation and management plan.
We liaise with next of kin, facility staff and the Geriatrician from the RMH.
Follow-up care
If ongoing or continuing care is required after initial assessment and treatment, referral to an appropriate service (including RMH@Home Acute or community/outreach palliative care support) will be made or recommended.
We may also recommend follow-up with other community care providers such as:
- Dementia Support Australia
- Wound nurse consultant
- Community Palliative Care Service
- Private geriatricians
A copy of In Reach’s detailed assessment and management plan will be provided to the RACF and faxed to the resident's GP.
Our Residential In Reach Post Hospital Support service provides assistance to help patients safely transition from a hospital admission to a residential facility.
Our Post Hospital Support service is designed for older adults, aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for First Nations people) who:
- are moving from a hospital stay into a new Residential Aged Care Home
- have dementia or delirium and are at risk or readmission
- are likely to experience a challenging transition
Our team works closely with aged care staff and families to help residents settle safely back into familiar surroundings with the right support in place.
Referrals
Phone referrals accepted
We accept phone referrals from GPs, locums, ambulance services, aged care facility staff. We also accept internal referrals from the RMH wards and Emergency.
To refer a patient, call the Triage Clinical Nurse Consultant on 0448 570 420
Referrals are triaged. If required, specialist RMH nursing and medical staff can visit the patient on the same day in the residential care facility.
An In Reach nurse will attend the facility and assess the resident. An In Reach nurse will then call to notify the referrer of the resident’s assessment and discuss whether any treatment needs to be initiated.
Referrals via phone only.
We mainly service residential aged care facilities in Alphington, Ascot Vale, Avondale Heights, Brunswick, Carlton, Coburg, Essendon, Flemington, Glenroy, Jacana, Moonee Ponds, Parkville, Pascoe Vale, Thornbury, and Fawkner.
Some intersection of suburbs can occur with other In Reach Services. Contact us to confirm RACF catchment.
HealthPathways Melbourne provides guidance on best practice assessment and management of common medical conditions, including when and where to refer patients.
Parkville Connect is a secure web-based portal providing GPs, specialists and other health professionals with information in the Parkville electronic medical record (EMR).
Affiliates
RMH@Home Acute
The RMH@Home Acute service provides inpatient acute and subacute care for patients in their home environment. It is a safe, comfortable and efficient substitution for in-hospital care for a wide range of conditions.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
0419 893 685
RAPID
RAPID, a Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre initiative, provides patients with rapid and responsive access to symptom management and expert assessment and intervention, extending hospital palliative care expertise to patients in the community. The team can assist patients and their family with complex decision-making, goal-setting, specialist symptom advice and treatment, as well as urgent linkage with community palliative care services (MCM and Mercy Palliative Care) if needed.
Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm
0439 573 526
Links & documents
Interpreters and cultural support
We provide qualified, professional interpreters to help you communicate with us at any time during your stay and at your clinic appointments.
- Μάθετε περισότερα γιά διερμηνείς & υποστήριξη κουλτούρας
- Scopri di più sugli interpreti e sul supporto culturale
- Tercümanlar ve kültürel destek hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmek için
- Tìm hiểu thêm về thông dịch viên và hỗ trợ văn hóa
- 找出更多翻译与文化支持的信息
- لمزيدٍ من المعلومات عن خدمة الترجمة الشفهية والخدمات الثقافية
Links & documents
Robert Campbell Wing (Building 17)
34-54 Poplar Rd, Parkville, Victoria