Emergency Department Models of Care 2012 - NSW Health

■■The size of the MAU bed-base or co-location to another ward will determine the FullTime Equivalent (FTE) for dedicated Allied Health staffing. The MAU patient group (forexample, paediatrics, geriatrics, general medical patients) will inform the Allied Healthstaff selected to work in the MAU.7-day-per-week dedicated Allied Health Staff (especially Physiotherapy, OccupationalTherapy and Social Work staff) are recommended. FTE provisions should be made asnecessary for staff from pharmacy, dietetics, Speech Pathology, Allied Health Assistants,and play therapy.Support Staff:■■Clerical support and Clerical Support Officers (CSO) as per normal inpatient wardarrangementsDedicated porter/wardsperson/patient transport staff is recommended for units withgreater than 15 beds. These services have been shown to decrease delays in patienttransport and movements.Physical space■■Located close to or co-located to the ED but recognised as a separate unit.Within close proximity to diagnostic facilities and services (pathology, radiology andpharmacy). It has been shown that increased distance to diagnostic services reduces thelikelihood of immediate transfer of patients to MAU.Business rulesIt is recommended that the MAU business rules contain:■■Admission criteria (inclusive of any exclusion criteria)An example of admission criteria: The MAU is available for all adult patients who areconsidered to be a medical admission, require a period of assessment and diagnosticreview, are non-critical and stable and do not require resuscitation and stabilisation.■ An example of Exclusion Criteria is given here in Table 1.Table 1: Exclusion CriteriaExcluded PatientsCritical CareHigh Dependency AirwayUnstableNeurologicalSurgicalRenalSpeciality careComplex/Undifferentiatedpatients who are unstableMental HealthChallenging BehavioursOtherAny patient who is to be admitted to ICU, CCU, HDU or othercritical care unitsThreatened airway or any patient who requires BiPAP or CPAPResp rate 36/minO2Sat