title: The first eighteen months of a paediatric ambulatory and community service.
abstract: Hospital admission is distressing and traumatic for children as they are separated from their families and home. Internationally, and in Australia, alternative models of health care are being developed to meet the needs of children and their families. We describe the first eighteen months of the establishment of a paediatric ambulatory and community service in a district health service in New South Wales. Key outcomes include: increased referral to the service from acute hospital and primary care services; parental satisfaction and saved hospital bed-days. Lessons learnt in the setting up of this service include the need for proactive engagement of consumers and stakeholders; clear definition of roles and responsibilities; and measurable and reasonable performance indicators.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Health Service, Sydney South West Area Health Service, B Wing, Liverpool Hospital, PO Box 3084, Liverpool BC, Sydney, NSW. Susan.Woolfenden@sswsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Woolfenden
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalkeith
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003153:Community Health Services; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D009517:New South Wales; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data