Rockhampton Hospital’s expanded Transit Lounge is improving patient flow, thanks to funding from the Queensland Government’s Putting Patients First initiative.
The lounge was expanded to a seven-day model in October last year and has seen a 44 per cent increase in patient activity – to about 560 patients a month.
Nursing Director Critical and Emergency Care Elise De Vre says the Transit Lounge is a comfortable space near the main entrance of the hospital where suitable patients are cared for by Clinical Nurses and Enrolled Nurses while they await transport home, or a transfer to another ward, hospital, or facility.
“This creates early access to beds on the ward to transfer patients out of the Emergency Department,” she said.
“It’s a relative oasis from the hectic environment of the ED or wards. There are two beds available, as well as comfortable reclining chairs with a television and facilities for comfort.
“Our Transit Lounge nurses are a wonderful bunch. They’re very experienced. They know patients very well and how to remove barriers to discharge and support the wards to ensure patients get home safely.”
Clinical Nurse Teena Buchanan and Endorsed Enrolled Nurse Jean Olsson have worked together in the lounge for the past 10 years and they love it.
“We also have a little more time to give for care and education. We’re often the last people the patients see, so we like to make a good impression,” Teena said.
Elise says she’d like to see even more patients using this valuable service each day.
“This includes working early to identify tomorrow’s discharges the day before and ensuring patients have everything they need organised, such as medications, dressings, transport and with any required services in place.”