The After-hours Action Planning Audit Tool enables RACHs to self-assess their current after-hours preparedness, identify gaps in after-hours capabilities, and discover which resources, processes, and procedures could be adopted to improve residents' access to appropriate medical care.

Use this tool to assess the status of your RACH's after-hours preparedness. It contains links to other helpful after-hours resources.

To download the resource, click here.

The After-hours Family fact sheet is an informative flyer for the family members and carers of RACH residents to help them understand:

• what happens if someone is unwell after-hours (at night or on the weekend)
• how families can help.

To download the resource, click here.

The After-hours Family fact sheet has been developed by PHNs in a range of languages other than English, including Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Maltese, Punjabi, Turkish, Vietnamese, Croatian, Dutch, German, Macedonian, Sinhalese, Spanish and Tamil. Translated versions can be found here.

Based on the ISBAR (Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) Communication Tool, the Medical Support Checklist tool is designed to aid staff in responding to residents who are unwell and require medical support.

It is best utilised by completing the form and contacting services to provide information on a resident’s condition, such as their general practitioner, locum service, or Virtual Emergency Care Service (VECS) - Queensland Virtual Hospital. To assess which service may be most appropriate to your needs, and whether the Virtual Emergency Care Service is right for you, use the Healthdirect Symptom Checker at www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker

The checklist can be printed and bound as an A4 notepad or saved as a digital copy distributed to all nursing stations for use on electronic devices.

To download the resource, click here.

The Individual Resident After-hours Action Plan provides a detailed summary of a resident’s after-hours care plans, enabling staff to quickly access current and key information during an emergency.

Keep the plan secure and easily accessible so staff can always use it, ensuring the privacy of residents’ records and information. Regularly review and update each plan to reflect the changing needs of your residents.

To download the resource, click here.

The Facility After-hours Action Plan is a fillable template developed to support RACHs in identifying, recording, and sharing contacts with staff who may need to access this information during an after-hours care scenario.

The completed plan should be available as a printed copy in locations easily accessible to staff working after hours.

To download the resource, click here.

The Clinical Pathways QR Code Resources conveniently provide information that directs to Queensland Health’s Residential Aged Care Facility Support Service (RaSS) Clinical Guidelines for 31 different conditions. Clinical staff can use it to assist with managing acute care on-site, where appropriate, and as a guide for the escalation of care and handovers, as necessary.

HealthPathways QR resources are available for each northern Queensland region, providing localised and relevant information and resources to guide management on a broad range of conditions and situations. Your nursing team can use the resource to access team-based perspectives and support, as well as locum or telehealth general practice service referral information within local HealthPathways platforms. 

The resource is available in several formats, including a print-ready A4 handbook, A3 poster, or A5 document.

To download the A3 poster, click here.

To download the A5 document, click here.

To download the A4 handbook, click here.

NQPHN recommends that RACHs refer to healthdirect’s National Health Services Directory to identify key providers before acute after-hours scenarios.

The After-hours Service Directories resource is a template that RACHs can use similarly or alternately to the Facility After-hours Action Plan, as a current contact list to reference in after-hours scenarios.

The Word document format enables easy customisation should you work with multiple general practitioners with different after-hours response preferences for their patients’ care.

It is essential to keep these contacts current and easily accessible to all staff at all times.

To download the resource, click here.