scholarly journals COVID-19 Australia: Epidemiology Report 25: Fortnightly reporting period ending 13 September 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

Cumulatively to 13 September there have been 26,753 case notifications and 674 deaths. The number of new cases reported nationally this fortnight was 764, a 61% decrease from the previous fortnight (1,948). On average this represented 55 cases diagnosed each day over the reporting period, a decrease from 125 cases per day over the previous reporting period. 84% of all cases (640/764) were reported in Victoria, with a smaller number of cases reported from New South Wales (95), Queensland (22), Western Australia (4) and South Australia (3). In Victoria, 97% of cases (621) were locally acquired and were mostly reported from residential aged care facilities; and 3% of cases (19) were reported as under investigation at the date of extract this reporting period. Excluding Victoria, 124 cases were reported nationally, 32% (40) were overseas acquired; 65% (81) were locally acquired, predominantly in New South Wales (62); and 2% (3) of cases were under investigation at this time, all reported in Queensland. The continued decrease in new cases observed this fortnight in Victoria is likely associated with the enhanced public health measures that are currently in place in Victoria. Locally-acquired cases which were predominantly associated with several interconnected clusters continued to be reported in New South Wales. In Queensland, 82% of cases (18/22) were reported as locally acquired from two clusters associated with immigration centres or correctional facilities. A total of 6 deaths were reported from cases diagnosed in this reporting period—all from Victoria, all aged 50 years or older, three male and three female. Although testing rates have declined gradually over the past month they remain high at 14.5 tests per 1,000 population per week. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period was 0.13%. Victoria reported a positivity rate of 0.39% for this reporting period while in all other jurisdictions the positivity rate was 0.05% or lower. For this report, “In focus” is paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-COV-2 (PIMS-TS). A review of Australia’s public health response to COVID-19 (as at 13 September 2020) is at Appendix A.

scholarly journals A multi-organisation aged care emergency service for acute care management of older residents in aged care facilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Conway ◽  
Sophie Dilworth ◽  
Carolyn Hullick ◽  
Jacqueline Hewitt ◽  
Catherine Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Local Health ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities

This case study describes a multi-organisation aged care emergency (ACE) service. The service was designed to enable point-of-care assessment and management for older people in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Design of the ACE service involved consultation and engagement of multiple key stakeholders. The ACE service was implemented in a large geographical region of a single Medicare Local (ML) in New South Wales, Australia. The service was developed over several phases. A case control pilot evaluation of one emergency department (ED) and four RACFs revealed a 16% reduction in presentations to the ED as well as reductions in admission to the hospital following ED presentation. Following initial pilot work, the ACE service transitioned across another five EDs and 85 RACFs in the local health district. The service has now been implemented in a further 10 sites (six metropolitan and four rural EDs) across New South Wales. Ongoing evaluation of the implementation continues to show positive outcomes. The ACE service offers a model shown to reduce ED presentations and admissions from RACFs, and provide quality care with a focus on the needs of the older person.

More action needed: Psychotropic prescribing in Australian residential aged care

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juanita Westbury ◽  
Peter Gee ◽  
Tristan Ling ◽  
Alex Kitsos ◽  
Gregory Peterson
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Aged Care Facility ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facility ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

Objective: For at least two decades, concerns have been raised about inappropriate psychotropic prescribing in Australian residential aged care facilities, due to their modest therapeutic benefit and increased risk of falls and mortality. To date, the majority of prevalence data has been collected in Sydney exclusively and it is not known if recent initiatives to promote appropriate psychotropic prescribing have impacted utilisation. Thus, we aimed to comprehensively analyse psychotropic use in a large national sample of residential aged care facility residents. Method: A cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study of residents from 150 residential aged care facilities distributed nationally during April 2014–October 2015. Antipsychotic, anxiolytic/hypnotic and antidepressant utilisation was assessed, along with anticonvulsant and anti-dementia drug use. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to examine variation in psychotropic use. Results: Full psychotropic prescribing data was available from 11,368 residents. Nearly two-thirds (61%) were taking psychotropic agents regularly, with over 41% prescribed antidepressants, 22% antipsychotics and 22% of residents taking benzodiazepines. Over 30% and 11% were charted for ‘prn’ (as required) benzodiazepines and antipsychotics, respectively. More than 16% of the residents were taking sedating antidepressants, predominantly mirtazapine. South Australian residents were more likely to be taking benzodiazepines ( p < 0.05) and residents from New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory less likely to be taking them ( p < 0.01), after adjustment for rurality and size of residential aged care facility. Residents located in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory were also significantly less likely to take antidepressants ( p < 0.01), as were residents from outer regional residential aged care facilities ( p < 0.01). Antipsychotic use was not associated with State, rurality or residential aged care facility size. Conclusion: Regular antipsychotic use appears to have decreased in residential aged care facilities but benzodiazepine prevalence is higher, particularly in South Australian residential aged care facilities. Sedating antidepressant and ‘prn’ psychotropic prescribing is widespread. Effective interventions to reduce the continued reliance on psychotropic management, in conjunction with active promotion of non-pharmacological strategies, are urgently required.

scholarly journals Dementia and intentional and unintentional poisoning in older people: a 10 year review of hospitalization records in New South Wales, Australia – CORRIGENDUM

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2101-2101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Mitchell ◽  
Lara A. Harvey ◽  
Henry Brodaty ◽  
Brian Draper ◽  
Jacqueline C. T. Close
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Older People ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Typographical Error ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities

The authors would like to apologise for a typographical error in the abstract of the above mentioned article.In the results section of the abstract on the first page of the article, the first odds ratio that refers to ‘aged care facilities’ should be (OR 5.44; 95% CI 4.43–6.67) and the second odds ratio that refers to health service facilities should be (OR 4.56; 95%CI 4.06–5.13).

Exploring information technology (IT) sophistication in New South Wales residential aged care facilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 288
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Alexander ◽  
Andrew Georgiou ◽  
Joyce Siette ◽  
Richard Madsen ◽  
Anne Livingstone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
It Use ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
It Capabilities ◽  
It Integration ◽  
High Care ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

Objective The aim of this study was to determine baseline information technology (IT) sophistication in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, residential aged care facilities. Method IT sophistication measures IT capabilities, extent of IT use and IT integration in two domains, resident care and clinical support. A survey was administered to all NSW residential aged care facilities (n = 876) between February and May 2017. A 15% response rate was achieved (130/876). Facilities were organised by organisational type, total residential places and remoteness. Using post-stratification weights, estimates of IT sophistication scores for NSW were determined. Regression was used to examine whether there was a linear relationship between IT sophistication and the ratio of residents receiving high care. Results Participating facilities were similar to other NSW facilities in residential places and remoteness, but different in organisational type. IT sophistication was highest in IT capabilities and integration in resident care. IT sophistication was lowest in clinical support. Respondents had a mean of 1.2 years of IT experience. IT sophistication varied among aged care facilities. There was a linear relationship (P &lt; 0.05) with the proportion of high-care residents and total IT sophistication Conclusion Routine reports of IT sophistication in aged care are not available. If data were available, determining the influence of IT sophistication on the quality care for residential aged care would be possible. What is known about the topic? Aged care settings that deliver care to the older population need to be contemporary in their approach to delivering high-quality and safe care. Health IT holds great potential for improving the quality and safety of care of older residents in aged care facilities. What does this paper add? This report provides a baseline assessment of IT capabilities, extent of IT use and IT integration, called IT sophistication, among aged care facilities with variable characteristics. What are implications for practitioners? Increasing IT sophistication has the potential to improve the quality of care delivered by aged care staff.

scholarly journals Control of COVID-19 in Australia through quarantine: the role of special health accommodation (SHA) in New South Wales, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Fotheringham ◽  
Teresa Anderson ◽  
Miranda Shaw ◽  
Joseph Jewitt ◽  
Hannah Storey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Clinical Management ◽  
New South ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Returning Travellers ◽  
Special Health

Abstract Background The first COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in Australia on 25 January 2020. Initial epidiemiology showed that the majority of cases were in returned travellers from overseas. One aspect of Public Health response was to introduce compulsory 14 day quarantine for all travellers returning to New South Wales (NSW) by air or sea in Special Health Accommodation (SHA). We aim to outline the establishment of a specialised health quarantine accommodation service in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe the first month of COVID-19 screening. Methods The SHA was established with a comprehensive governance structure, remote clinical management through Royal Prince Alfred Virtual Hospital (rpavirtual) and site management with health care workers, NSW Police and accommodation staff. Results From 29 March to 29 April 2020, 373 returning travellers were admitted to the SHA from Sydney Airport. 88 (26.1%) of those swabbed were positive for SARS-CoV 2. The day of diagnosis of COVID-19 varied from Day 1 to Day 13, with 63.6% (n = 56) of these in the first week of quarantine. 50% of the people in the SHA were referred to rpavirtual for ongoing clinical management. Seven people required admission to hospital for ongoing clinical care. Conclusion The Public Health response to COVID-19 in Australia included early and increased case detection through testing, tracing of contacts of confirmed cases, social distancing and prohibition of gatherings. In addition to these measures, the introduction of mandated quarantine for travellers to Australia was integral to the successful containment of COVID-19 in NSW and Australia through the prevention of transmission locally and interstate from returning travellers.

Hospital admissions from residential aged care facilities to a major public hospital in South Australia (1999-2005)

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie B Hillen ◽  
Richard L Reed ◽  
Richard J Woodman ◽  
Deborah Law ◽  
Paul H Hakendorf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Hospital ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Sites of Confinement: Public Health, Disposable Lives and Legal Accountability in Immigration Detention and Aged Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Dehm ◽  
Claire Loughnan ◽  
Linda Steele
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Reform ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Immigration Detention ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Legal Accountability ◽  
Legal Strategies

The global COVID-19 pandemic starkly revealed the underlying structural harms and produced vulnerabilities for people living in closed congregate settings like immigration detention centres (‘IDCs’) and residential aged care facilities (‘RACFs’). This article compares the Australian legal regimes that regulate IDCs and RACFs, conceptualising both as authorising and enabling sites of control, confinement and social isolation. We argue that specific COVID-19 measures have intensified a logic of social exclusion and disposability towards people in IDCs and RACFs. Through comparing recent COVID-19 litigation, the article explores the possibilities and limitations of engaging legal strategies to achieve social reform and legal accountability within both sites of confinement. Ultimately, we suggest that such COVID-19 litigation has the greatest possibility of advancing social justice when it is embedded in a broader politics of de-incarceration and abolition oriented towards political inclusion, public health and building more equitable and just communities.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Australia: Epidemiology Report 26: Fortnightly reporting period ending 27 September 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Wales

Cumulatively to 27 September there have been 27,095 case notifications and 835 deaths. The number of new cases reported nationally this fortnight was 278, a 67% decrease from the previous fortnight (841). On average, this represented 20 cases notified each day over the reporting period, a decrease from an average of 60 cases per day over the previous reporting period. 82% of all COVID-19 cases for the period (229/278) were reported in Victoria, with smaller numbers of cases reported from New South Wales (32), Western Australia (9), Queensland (6) and South Australia (2). In Victoria, 92% of cases (210/229) were locally acquired with known source, 7% (15/229) were locally acquired with unknown source, and 2% (4/229) were reported as under investigation. Excluding Victoria, there were 49 cases in other jurisdictions. Of these, 69% (34/49) were overseas acquired, 18% (9/49) were locally acquired, and 12% (10/49) were under investigation at this time. The continued decrease in new cases observed this fortnight in Victoria was the result of the public health interventions to minimise transmission. A total of 8 deaths were reported from cases diagnosed in this reporting period, all of whom were >75 years old, and all from Victoria. Although testing rates declined over the past month, they remain high at 10.4 tests per 1,000 population per week. There is variability in the testing rate by jurisdiction; the rate depends on the epidemic context. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period was 0.08%. Victoria reported a positivity rate of 0.18% for this reporting period, while in all other jurisdictions the positivity rate was 0.05% or lower.

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