On behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing, AHA recently provided Transition Care training to ACATs across Australia, focusing on the goals of the ACAP as well as the rules governing approvals and placement of people into transition care.
Transition care provides short-term support and active management for older people at the interface of the acute/sub-acute and aged care sectors. Transition care targets older people at the conclusion of a hospital episode who require more time and support in a non-hospital environment to complete their restorative process, optimise their functional capacity and finalise and access their longer term care arrangements.
This project demonstrates our extensive knowledge of the interface between primary care, acute care and aged care sectors. The project involved the development, piloting and delivery of training to ACATs regarding this current government initiative which aims to reduce the number of older long-stay patients in hospitals. Thirty three (33) training sessions were conducted to both ACAT members and transition care service providers throughout all States and Territories, except Western Australia.
The training was highly successful with 99% of participants rating their understanding of the Transition Care Program and the role of ACATs as either very good (52%) or good (47%). This Project has enabled ACAT nationally to accurately and consistently assess older people as being eligible for the Transition Care Program.