The DELIVER project team are conducting a trial to evaluate a region-wide Residential in Reach service through regional and rural health services in the Grampians Region, Victoria.
Residential In-Reach (RIR) is a free service that brings expert healthcare directly to people living in aged care homes. Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Consultants, and Geriatricians work with General Practitioners (GPs) to quickly assess, treat, and care for people living in aged care home without the need to go to the hospital. The Grampians Region Health Service Partnership Residential In-Reach model of care offers this service to all residential aged care homes in the region.
The evidence for the benefits of Residential In-Reach has been well-established in urban settings. However, there is limited and low-quality evidence for rural and regional settings, where there are differences in access to services, workforce skill mix and capacity, and socio-demographics.
This research will evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of the RIR service and its implementation in the rural and regional setting. We hypothesise that implementation of the service will result in a reduction in emergency department / urgent care centre presentations from residents of aged care homes.
The trial commenced in April 2025, and the new Residential in Reach service commenced in May 2025. The trial will continue until June 2026.
Research Trial Partner Organisations:
- Grampians Region Health Service Partnership (Beaufort & Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, East Grampians Health Service, East Wimmera Heath Service, Grampians Health, Maryborough District Health Service, Rural Northwest Health, West Wimmera Health Service)
- Deakin University
- Monash University
- Western Alliance Academic Health Service Centre
To find out more about the Grampians Region Health Service Partnership Residential In-Reach model of care, click here.
To find out more about the DELIVER Residential In-Reach trial, contact DELIVER at deliver@deakin.edu.au