Hospital Demand Management Strategy - Department of Human Services Victoria Australia

Archived 14 June 2006 - some links may not work


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Short Stay / Observation Unit Project

Whats New

Models of Care to Optimise Acute Length of Stay: Short Stay / Observation Unit (SOU); Medical Assessment & Planning Unit (MAPU); Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) - Clinical Epidemiology & Health Service Evaluation Unit, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne Health - August 2004 ( PDF File 1.74MB)

Short Stay and Observation Units Final Report - 30 May 2001 ( PDF File 455KB)

Short Stay and Observation Units Final Report - Appendix D Sample Guideline - Allergic Reactions - Angliss Health Service - September 2000 (PDF File 24KB)

About Us

The Short Stay/Observation Unit project has been commissioned in order to examine the use of such units within Victorian hospitals and the potential for improved efficiencies in the management of suitable patients. The project was conducted by the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Service Evaluation Unit at Melbourne Health, under the direction of Associate Professor Don Campbell. The Short Stay/Observation Unit project aims were to:

Describe the distribution and operation of Short Stay/Observation Units (SOUs) in Victorian public hospitals, identifying the key features which differentiate between the types of units/approaches
Make recommendations concerning a best practice model for SOUs.

The specific objectives of the project were to:

Conduct a review of the published literature and local evaluation data concerning the establishment and operation of SOUs and outcomes of care for patients
Describe the features of SOUs operating in Victorian public hospitals
Identify models for SOUs in the following settings:

level 1 teaching hospitals
metropolitan district hospitals
provincial centre hospitals

Make recommendations concerning

staffing structure and management of SOUs
models of service
relationship of the SOU to demand management strategies for the hospital
types of patients best managed in short stay/observation units
communication with patient and community-based continuing medical care

Identify potential performance indicators for SOUs
Identify and make recommendations concerning the recording of SOU patients in the VEMD and VAED

Last updated: 14 June, 2006
Contact: This web site is managed and authorised by the Statewide Elective Surgery Program Unit of the Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Division of the Victorian State Government, Department of Human Services, Australia