CLINICAL NAVIGATION AND NEMS PATHWAYS
Our Clinical Navigation and NEMS Pathways service is used by GP Practices to help address more serious and pressing healthcare issues faced by their patients, supporting them in cases where a hospital admission or further assessment may be needed.
How NEMS Pathways Works
If a patient has a consultation with their GP wherein the GP determines they require further urgent assessment, NEMS offers an out of hospital pathway for agreed medical conditions. GP’s are able to refer to the NEMS pathways team through a dedicated line so that our clinicians can review the urgency and clinical nature of the patient’s health issue.
Many of the patients referred onto NEMS Pathways are seen by NEMS clinicians based at our facilities at Queens Medical Centre and PC24. Here, they can facilitate a further assessment, in many cases providing a safe alternative to a hospital admission.
In 95% of cases that are referred to the NEMS Pathways Team, we can facilitate a viable treatment alternative that will allow patients to avoid the disruption of a hospital admission.
Administering Treatment
NEMS Pathways staff only administer treatment to the patients who are able to circumvent a hospital admission, but still have a serious condition that warrants immediate medical attention.
NEMS Pathways staff commonly tend to patients who have suspected deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis, or those who require a simple diagnostic test in order for their registered GP to decide the best course of action. For certain other conditions, NEMS Pathways is also able to make assessments and pass critical information on to GPs, helping the patient’s registered doctor to administer further treatments.
Hospital Admission Logistics
When consultations determine that a hospital admission is required during periods of the evening, overnight and weekends, NEMS pathways navigators are also able to facilitate the location of a hospital bed and ambulance transport.
This support removes some of the logistical strain faced by GPs, and ensures the patient’s hospital stay is as smooth and as comfortable as possible.
