None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will compare treatment at home versus treatment in hospital for low-risk conditions. We wish to find out if treatment at home is better/worse/same in terms of clinical outcomes, acceptability to patients and healthcare costs. The hypotheses tested are that a pathway for paramedic referral of patients to a home-based treatment service for community management of low-acuity injury or illness will: a) lead to clinical outcomes that are equivalent to ED based care; b) have a cost benefit, reducing the costs of healthcare provision for that episode of care; and c) be acceptable to patients and meet high levels of patient satisfaction.
Interventions
Paramedics will assess for suitability for home care following agreed inclusion and exclusion criteria and will confirm this with the call centre which will provide randomisation. Those randomised to the treatment arm will be referred by the paramedic to the home-based treatment by home hospital team instead of the standard care which is to transport to hospital. The paramedic will provide a clinical assessment, a telephone handover, and clinical documentation which stays with the patient until
Paramedics will assess for suitability for home care following agreed inclusion and exclusion criteria and will confirm this with the call centre which will provide randomisation. Those randomised to the treatment arm will be referred by the paramedic to the home-based treatment by home hospital team instead of the standard care which is to transport to hospital. The paramedic will provide a clinical assessment, a telephone handover, and clinical documentation which stays with the patient until the home hospital team arrives within 4 hours. The paramedic will also ensure clinical stability and safety and inform participants that they can call the ambulance again if they are concerned prior to the arrival of the home hospital team. Recruitment into the trial will take place over a 6 month period.
Sponsors
Associate Professor Moira Sim
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Clinical inclusion: low risk injury, uncomplicated infection in immunocompetent patient, or medical equipment complication (eg. blocked catheter). Capable of providing informed consent or is cognitively impaired and has the support of a parent/guardian/carer/relative who agrees to his/her participation. Medicare eligible
Exclusion criteria
Not at own residence at time of call-out, lives in an unsafe environment or lives alone. >22 wks pregnant Abnormal vital signs Pain requiring narcotics Safe and suitable to wait up to 4 hours for the arrival of the home hospital team
Outcome results
None listed