Abstract
Abstract Background The Pathfinder service is a collaboration between the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and acute hospital Physiotherapists (PT) and Occupational Therapists (OT). The service aims to safely treat over-65s who have called 999 with low-acuity problems at home. It offers safe alternative care pathways to traditional Emergency Department (ED) attendance to older adults within our hospital catchment area (Bernard et al. 2021). Methods A retrospective review of the service database for 2023 was completed. A patient experience survey was conducted over a 4-week period in Quarter 4 of 2023. The survey consisted of both Likert scale and open-ended questions. Service statistics and Likert data were analysed in Microsoft Excel, while open-ended responses were analysed thematically. Results A total of 598 calls were received by our Pathfinder service in 2023: live 999 calls (n=407), and “Special Services” (SS) calls from Dublin Fire Brigade (n=191). 55% of live 999 call referrals attended by Pathfinder were safely kept at home. Of 191 SS referrals, 35% (n=66) had a review by the Pathfinder team. Of the 66 assessed, 94% (n=62) were safely kept at home. A total of 1,392 follow-up interventions (home visits, phone calls, onward referrals) were completed by PT and OT. Service user feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% (n=20) of respondents stating they would be happy to see the Pathfinder team again if calling 999. General feedback highlighted the responsiveness, thorough assessment, and friendliness and professionalism of the team. Areas for development included increasing staffing and increasing to a 7-day service. Conclusion The Pathfinder service is effective in an urban setting. Over a 12-month period, 55% of patients assessed by Pathfinder were safely treated at home, with follow-up support from Pathfinder PT and OT. Service users report positive experiences and would be happy to see the team in the future when calling 999.
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