Case Studies

1
Case Studies

• Jodie Altschwager
• Rural Liaison Nurse
• Royal Adelaide Hospital

2
Northern Territory

• 50 year old Aboriginal man from Gove referred
  with a significant head and neck tumour.
• Emergency tracheostomy in initial investigations
  not allowing patient to talk.
• Wife not approved as an escort as patient could
  understand English

3
Northern Territory

• Friends payed for wifes flight and provided
  accommodation at their house in Adelaide.
• Patient proceeded to have extensive surgery,
  insertion of PEG tube for nutrition and
  discharged from hospital for 6 weeks of
  radiotherapy.
• Wife eventually approved as escort towards end of
  treatment. Nil other costs reimbursed.

4
The man with the cut hand

• 50 year old man
• Transferred from local regional hospital with an
  extensive lacerated hand.
• Underwent Plastic Surgery.
• Contacted by ward to assist in arranging
  transport home
• Patient not aware of PATS scheme

5
What he got

• Self funded a trip on his credit card via
  commercial flight home to Broken Hill.
• No reimbursement for flight only equivalent road
  mileage of 12.7c km
• We could have been creative for an escort if
  needed
• Medical staff chased at referring and treating
  hospital to complete IPTAAS form
• Out of pocket over 150

6
If from NT

• No escort would have been funded
• Commercial flight home would have been booked and
  paid for by Patient Travel
• Follow up in Adelaide in two weeks time would not
  be approved.
• Would need to stay in Adelaide by self in funded,
  basic accommodation or opt for no follow-up

7
If a Victorian

• Medical staff chased at referring and treating
  hospital to complete form
• Pay 1st 100 of travel before reimbursement as
  not on health care card
• Escort could be approved
• Flight would be covered (creatively)
• Several trips on one form

8
If a South Australian

• PATS form completed by Rural Liaison Nurse
• Full reimbursement of flight and for escort
• No need to referring section of form to be
  completed
• RAH could have booked flight and been fully
  reimbursed by PATS
• No patient contribution required

9
Case Studies

• Jodie Altschwager
• Rural Liaison Nurse
• Royal Adelaide Hospital