Models of care
In the Nepean Hospital emergency department there are many areas where you may be treated depending on the priority of care you require as determined by the triage nurse.
Each area operates under a different model of care with different specialised teams providing medical treatment.
Resuscitation
The sickest patients are seen in the resuscitation room. These people need a medical and nursing team response straight away. They are critically ill and have a life-threating condition. These patients may be experiencing:
- Cardiac arrest
- Difficulty breathing
- Unconsciousness
- Anaphylaxis with problems breathing
- Uncontrollable haemorrhaging (bleeding)
- Major trauma
Acute Care & START Zone
Patients with a possible life-threatening condition are cared for in the Acute Care and START Zone of the emergency department.
There are patient beds and medical treatment chairs in this area.
In this area patients are assessed by nurses and doctors before being moved to a patient bed, treatment chair or back to the waiting room.
All patients in the Acute and START Zone areas are managed by the red and yellow medical teams.
Patients who are treated in the Acute Care/START Zone may have:
- Heart/Chest Pain
- Respiratory illnesses such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or severe asthma
- Acute or chronic illnesses
- Complex presentations
Sub-Acute & Fast Track
The Sub-Acute area of the emergency department is for patients who have less serious conditions.
All patients in the Sub-Acute area are managed by the blue and green medical teams as well as nurse practitioners.
Patients who are treated in Sub-Acute area may experience:
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Headache
- Urinary issues
In this area patients are assessed by nurses and doctors before being moved to a patient bed, treatment chair or back to the waiting room.
The Fast Track area of the emergency department also operates within the sub-acute area.
Fast track does not mean that these people are seen first. It means that they can quickly be assessed by a nurse practitioner and/or physiotherapist.
While you are waiting to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or physiotherapist, you will be reassessed by a nurse in the waiting room. They can provide you with pain relief, order x-rays and take blood tests as well.
All patients assessed in the Fast Track area are treated by nurse practitioners and physiotherapists with assistance from the blue and green medical team.
Patients who are treated in the Fast Track area may have:
- Limb injuries
- Abscesses
- Wounds
- Animal bites
- Pregnancy related presentations
Children's Zone
All children (under 16 years) who present to the emergency department will be seen in this area, unless they need active resuscitation or are severely unwell.
This area requires swipe entry by staff.
In this area patients are assessed by nurses and doctors before being moved to a patient bed, treatment chair or back to the waiting room.
This space has an entertainment area for kids while they are in the ED.
