CARE Call

WACHS has systems in place that ensures clinicians can quickly recognise and take appropriate steps to care for patients whose physical health deteriorates whilst they are in hospital.

WACHS also recognises that patients, their families or carers are often aware - before clinical staff - of subtle changes in their or their loved ones physical health, but may not feel comfortable, or know how to share their concerns with clinicians.

Call and Respond Early (CARE) Call is a process that WACHS patients, their family or carers can initiate to raise their concerns with clinicians about the physiological health of themselves or a loved one in hospital.

WACHS CARE Call is a similar process to CARE Calls in place in many Perth Metropolitan Hospitals.

What is CARE Call?

CARE is a 3 step process.

Step 1. Reminds the patient, their family or carer to talk to the nurse, midwife or doctor caring for them if they have any concerns about the health of themselves or their loved one.

Step 2. Encourages the patient, family member or carer to ask to speak to the shift coordinator /nurse/midwife in charge if they still have concerns and feel that these have not been addressed by their primary carer.

Step 3. Provides the ability for the patient, family member or carer to make a CARE Call and speak to another clinician if they still have concerns that they don't feel have been adequately addressed in Step 1 or Step 2.

What happens when a CARE Call is made

When a CARE Call is made, a senior staff member listens the concerns of the person who made the CARE Call, and makes a full assessment of the patients situation, liaising with the treating medical team and other health care providers as required.

More information

Information brochures describing the CARE Call 3 step process and the hospital's CARE Call telephone number can be found at WACHS hospitals.