Streamlining the referral pathway from the Emergency Department to the Sexual Health clinic

1. Streamlining the referral pathway from the Emergency Department to the Sexual Health clinic Place AHS Logo Here Place AHS Logo Here Lorraine Harry, ED Clinical Nurse Specialist 2 Emergency, and Alison Mears, CNC HIV Sexual Health, HIV and Related Programs, (HARP) Hastings/Macleay Network, MNC LHD Introduction Community members often present at the local hospital Emergency Department (ED) with a history or symptoms that prompt clinicians to carry out pathology testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Once a clinician commences investigations for STI’s, and particularly if a positive result is found, then the clinician has a responsibility to follow up with this patient. This kind of follow up is time consuming and not really the core business of the ED staff.   In the Hastings Macleay Network of the Mid North Coast Local Health District there is a sexual health clinic, Clinic 33, that can help ED staff with this exact follow up, including following up with the patient re treatment and initiating any contact tracing required. At present there is no formal referral pathway from ED the Clinic 33. • Results • 100% of referrals fell into a HIV and Related Programs target groups, which include • Members of Aboriginal community • Youth • People infected with STI • 100% of positive results had appropriate follow up and contact tracing attended Aim Patients presenting to Kempsey District Hospital Emergency Department who have pathology testing for sexually transmitted infections are referred to Sexual Health for follow up (excluding pregnancy and sexual assaults <16yrs of age). Conclusion ED staff are now more aware of and more confident to address STI assessment, testing and treatment within the Emergency Department setting. Patients presenting to ED who are referred to Sexual Health for follow up of STI screening are contacted, symptoms discussed, information provided, appointments offered as appropriate, and importantly, contact tracing of people with positive STI pathology is attended Acknowledgements Leanne Wright, ED Nurse Practitioner Kerryn Bullivant, ED NUM, KDH Janet Knox, Staff Specialist Sexual Health, HARP Tim Platt, Medical Director of Kempsey Emergency Department Allan Forrester Network Medical Director of Hasting/Macleay Emergency Departments Method In consultation with key stake holders, a referral form was developed and trialled in ED. The referral form also acted as a guide to inform ED staff of what tests are considered best practice in different circumstances, and also information on current treatments for STI’s. Contact Details Alison Mears, Team Leader/CNC HIV and Sexual Health  Clinic 33 Hastings/Macleay Sexual Health Service Clinic 33, Kempsey Community Health, Polwood St, Kempsey, 2440, NSWTel. 02 6562 6066 | Fax. 02 6562 8116 | Mob. 0418 207 939 Alison.Mears@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au