ST GEORGE Hospital has recorded a transfer-of-care figure of 96.1 per cent, 13 minutes for patients arriving by ambulance.
The transfer-of-care target in NSW is 90 per cent, and 30 minutes, making the new emergency department one of the most efficient in the state.
Transfer of care is the time taken for the care of an ambulance patient to be transferred from paramedics to emergency department clinicians.
It starts when an ambulance arrives at the emergency department and ends when department staff accept care of the patient.
The transfer-of-care figures were from December.
St George Hospital emergency staff specialist Peter Grant said the new department was better equipped to handle the flow of patients.
New features such as parking for eight ambulances, direct entry in resuscitation, X-ray and CT imaging, fast-track room and a mental health short-stay ward benefited transfer of care.
"It's shown just how much we had outgrown the old department," Dr Grant said.
"You also can't achieve effective patient flow unless inpatient departments are still functioning, especially over Christmas."
The new emergency department opened on October 15. Its busiest day was on January 2, when 254 patients were treated.
"You still feel the pressure but you are in a much better appointed environment, Dr Grant said.
"The new [emergency department] is exceeding expectations in terms of staff morale, patient care and transfer of care time." Asked about the affect cuts to Medicare rebates for visits to a GP would have on the department, he said said: "Any increases in less-urgent cases would be a concern for us and we'd have to resource for it".
On January 15 federal Health Minister Sussan Ley announced the government had scrapped its plans to cut the Medicare rebate by $20 for short visits to the doctor.
Ms Ley said she was committed to introducing price signals, including the $5 GP co-payment due to start on July 1.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Presentations have increased by 7per cent at St George Hospital since the start of the ‘‘Save emergency departments for emergencies’’ campaign. At some hospitals, the increase has been 25percent.
Transfer of care was introduced in addition to previously reported off-stretcher time as a measure to provide a more complete picture.
Both transfer of care and off-stretcher time start when the ambulance arrives at the emergency department. Off-stretcher time continues until ambulance paramedics return to their vehicle.
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