Models of care are dynamic concepts that should evolve over time with changes in clinical practices and as hospitals strive to deliver improved health care. Models of care refer to the models of health service delivery and are used to inform design parameters and requirements for a new hospital facility. There is a relationship between models of care and service delivery principles which impact on hospital functionality requirements and should inform the design brief for any new hospital.
RCH planning documents identified the need to develop new models of care to meet service objectives and provide a facility capable of delivering care in line with the RCH philosophy and principles and overriding government and departmental policies, strategies and review outcomes.
The RCH saw a need to change from the then-current 'medical specialty' model to a model more focussed on the needs of patients and families to provide a more flexible, streamlined, and seamless approach to the provision of care.
The development of the RCH future models of care at the service planning stage was based on the identification of the key needs of core patient groups. This was intended to enable the new RCH to refocus its service delivery model and ensure the services provided related to the needs of each patient group. Four working groups were established with staff and consumer representation to work on details of service delivery and to consider what was 'best practice' in the provision of care for each of the core patient groups to inform the new models of care.
The new models of care outlined in the May 2004 RCH Service Plan were not sufficiently developed or defined. DHS advised that the models of care developed at the service planning stage were intended as a starting point and were to be further developed and refined over time.