GIMRAC development, model of care, support of admission avoidance and decreased length of stay

Abstract

Hallway medicine has taken a forefront in Ontario Healthcare and is influencing patient care. The Conservative party is focused on increasing fiscal responsibility.  Joseph Brant Hospital’s General Internal Medicine Rapid Assessment Clinic (GIMRAC) was initiated in 2016 in an effort to decrease hallway medicine and assume that fiscal responsibility by having the right patient in the right place at the right time. Appropriate patients are referred from the Emergency department and Inpatient units and provided with a timely assessment by an internal medicine physician in a clinic setting close to home. The GIMRAC has prevented over 3500 hospital admissions and allowed for over 800 early discharges since its inception. Volumes have increased by greater than 350% to date.

Specialty medical care, collaboration between departments, and an intense focus on client centered care, have supported these numbers. The governance of an Ambulatory Care Steering Committee and consistent monitoring of metrics amongst staff, leadership, and finance, has provided the transparency and accountability needed to further grow. A review of community needs allows for proper alignment of care within the clinics. A realignment of resources and co-location of clinics, allows for visibility, cross training of staff, and collaboration of expert care.

The aim of this presentation is to inform conference attendees about the type of patient optimal for this model of care, challenges surrounding referrals, follow up, limited resource utilization, and barriers to further growth. Strategies related to the daily dynamics

 

between frontline providers (ie., physicians, nurses, and hospital administration) will be outlined.

 

Biography Dr. Nada Elmazariky

Dr. Elmazariky is a graduate of McMaster University where she studied Internal Medicine and was nominated for Chief Resident at Juravinski Hospital. Dr. Elmazariky is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada where she became an academic representative for the Internal Medicine Fellows and a Certified Specialist in Internal Medicine. Dr. Elmazariky has been working at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) since 2016. She has led the development of the GIMRAC Clinic and been the physician lead for the Preoperative Medicine Clinic. Dr. Elmazariky has been instrumental in designing and teaching internal medicine electives for residents.

Presenting author details
Full name: Dr. Nada Elmazariky
Contact number: 1-647-808-6434
Session name/ number:
Category: Oral presentation
 

Biography Tracy A. Fazzari

Tracy Fazzari is the Manager of Oncology, Endoscopy and Ambulatory Care at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH), board member of the Canadian Association of Ambulatory Care and member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders. She has a Master of Science in Speech Pathology with over 18 years clinical experience and 12 years lecturing within the university which has supported her interest in patient centred care and provided the foundation for leadership. Tracy participated in the redevelopment project at JBH gaining operational skills necessary to develop the Ambulatory care clinics. Tracy has an interest in leadership, mentorship, collaboration and clinic development.

Author(s): Nada Elmazariky

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