The CALHN integrated care coordinator service is a one-stop-shop contact to support GPs, SA Ambulance Service and other providers to find alternative care and rapid assessment options for patients who would otherwise be presenting to the ED.
Known as the ‘CICC team’, these experienced nurses are skilled navigators of hospital systems and processes with extensive knowledge of who to call to get things done. Their quick response has become an invaluable resource for time-poor GPs.
By contacting the CICC team, GPs can help their patients avoid visits to ED and get specialist assessments to receive appropriate and timely treatment in alternative locations such as a Priority Care Centre, Hospital in the Home, the Hospital Avoidance and Supported Discharge Service, My Home Hospital or a rapid access clinic through the hospital. .
The CICC service is intended for GPs, SA Ambulance Service and other primary care services to assist with urgent requests for clinical assistance and guidance by coordinating community based patient care with hospital based care to get the best possible treatment pathway for the patient.
Contact the CICC
The CICC service is available 7 days a week and can be contacted daily between 0830 and 2030.
Phone 0475 813 345
Email HealthCALHNIntegratedCare@sa.gov.au
Meet the CICC nurses
Associate Nurse Unit Manager: Naomi Clark
Naomi has been employed as a registered nurse with SA Health for 20 years, with 15 of those years spent in services, Hospital in the Home (HITH) and hospital avoidance. She has much passion and enthusiasm with developing hospital avoidance strategies, working with the acute hospital sector to prevent hospital admissions or reduce length of hospital stay, and collaborating with non-government organisations and patients.
Nurse Consultant: Ezara Schell
With a career as a registered nurse spanning over 20 years specialising in emergency and remote site mining, Ezara has a worked in the CICC role since its inception in 2019. She has always had a passion for hospital avoidance and has developed strong working relationships with non-government organisations, other local health networks and CALHN services.
Dr Shane Maclaren’s referral experience, from Tusmore Avenue Surgery
Last Christmas eve, Dr Shane Maclaren at GP from Tusmore Avenue Surgery received a phone call from a patient, with a confirmed 5th metatarsal fracture.
Shane was unsure of the best approach to orthopaedic management, but he knowing he didn’t want to send the patient to the emergency department, he decided to call the CICC.
“I phoned the CICC and spoke with Ezara, who arranged an immediate review of the patient at the Hospital Avoidance Supported Discharge Centre (HASDC) with a nurse practitioner.”
“The patient soon presented to HASDS, was assessed and placed in a darcoe shoe and participated in a virtual consult with the CALHN orthopaedic on call consultant and a subsequent RAH OPD orthopaedic review clinic booking. I received a handover from HASDS of the outcome of the patient’s presentation to the clinic and follow up care required.”
“This resource is invaluable to health practitioners across the (CALHN) catchment, which helps patients and the system.”
