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Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

HealthConnect: a trial of an after-hours telephone triage service

Patrick Bolton, Sharryn Ganon and David Aro

Australian Health Review 25(2) 95 - 103
Published: 2002

Abstract

This paper describes HealthConnect, an after-hours telephone triage and advice service which operated for 15 months in 2000 and 2001. We describe the service, discuss utilisation and implementation issues, and conclude with a description of the key lessons learned from the trial. The service received over of 12000 calls, of which over half were for information rather than immediately seeking care.Continuing marketing appears to be required in order to ensure ongoing demand for services of this kind. Qualityassurance is essential to ensure that an optimal service is provided, and staff recruitment and training are critical tothis. A national standardised approach to services of this kind is desirable to provide a consistent service to consumers and realise economies of scale.

https://doi.org/10.1071/AH020095

© AHHA 2002

Committee on Publication Ethics

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