Replace this box and
Insert your logo here.
Insert name of facility here
Flowchart for the Acutely Unwell Resident
Guide for Aged Care Home Staff
Responding to a sick or injured resident
Conduct basic clinical
assessment (see next page)
If resident needs
medical care….
Contact:
1. GP Contact information
2. In Reach
(http://www.mpcn.org.au/services/d
sp-default.cfm?loadref=31)
3. Locum medical service insert
details of locums service used by
RACF
Any of the above services may direct
you to ring for an ambulance
December 2015
OR
Call for an Ambulance
000
Flowchart for the Acutely Unwell Resident
Guide for Aged Care Home Staff
For basic clinical assessment of the acutely unwell resident & ringing the GP
This guide is for Aged Care Home staff to help you provide enough clinical information over the telephone for the General Practitioner to decide the course of action for the
acutely unwell resident. It does not replace clinical care protocols within your Aged Care Home e.g. relating to falls, or specific resident care plans e.g. diabetic management.
The guide may also be useful if you need to ring Hospital In Reach, other hospital services, a locum medical deputising service or an ambulance.
Step : General assessment
Assess
 Does the resident look unwell
 Main symptoms e.g. distress, pain,
difficulty breathing, etc.
 Main physical signs e.g. alert, pale,
sweating, dehydrated, etc.
 Vital signs: pulse rate (regular /
irregular), temperature, respiratory rate,
blood pressure, blood sugar level (BSL)
 Consider resident care plan and
wishes of resident/relatives or any
Advance Care Directives
 Decide on urgency: ring the GP or
wait till GP available in-hours or call
Hospital In Reach service or call locum
or discuss with hospital ED or ring
ambulance
Step 2: Ringing the GP
Before ringing, have in front of you:
Step 3: Ringing the GP
If you have to leave a message, include:

Drug chart including allergies


Patient notes with documented vital
signs and general assessment (Step 1)
Name of Aged Care Home,
telephone number and time of call

Name of resident

Your name and title

Main reason for ringing

Urgency/how soon you need the
doctor to
ring back

Your next course of action
Tell the doctor:
 Your name and title (e.g. RN, EN,
PCA), and name of resident

The main reason for ringing e.g. change
in cognitive state / alertness, chest pain,
abdominal pain, vomiting, resident had a
fall, suspected UTI, palliative care, family
request, etc.

How long problem has been present
and whether recurrent

Who assessed the resident (name and
title) and what time

Findings from general assessment
(Step 1)

 Name and telephone number of GP / In
Reach/ locum and time rung
Who requested the doctor be rung (aged
care home staff/ resident/ family)

 Whether GP / In Reach/ locum will
attend and date and time expected
What action has been taken already
e.g. pain relief, anginine etc.
Step 4: Action
After the telephone call, document…
... and implement
 Immediate action / instructions e.g.
medication order, monitor resident, call
In Reach, call locum, call ambulance,
etc.
December 2015

Contact family as required