Emergency department NDIS rapid response initiative.

Abstract

Social workers and care coordinators working in the Emergency Department (ED) have observed a pattern of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants presenting to the emergency department with no acute medical reason. Instead, it is due to NDIS funds being exhausted and service providers refusing to continue care upon discharge as a result. This has left participants stranded in hospital unnecessarily. Due to the perceived lack of rapid response in the community disability sector, NDIS providers state that hospital presentation and/or admission and the subsequent escalation that occurs via the hospital escalation pathway results in higher prioritization of the participants’ NDIS plan reviews and implementation.