Care Alert Kits a one-stop-shop for health documents

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Queenslanders can now store all their important healthcare information in one place thanks to CEQ’s Care Alert Kit.

The kits are designed for patients to store all their healthcare information—including advance care planning documentation—in one location. The Care Alert Kit is based on an initiative developed by the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service in 2018, and developed with their permission by the Care at End of Life Project Team in collaboration with clinicians and consumers. A tailored version for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders has also been developed and endorsed for use.

Carey-Ann Tanner, Registered Nurse from Metro North Hospital and Health Service said Care Alert Kits provided easy access for anybody who may need to view hardcopy documents. ‘Carers, family members, substitute decision-makers, health professionals or paramedics for example will benefit greatly from having all of a person’s important health information in one location,’ she said.

Desre Arnold, Clinical Nurse Consultant from Caboolture Hospital with the Care Alert Kit.

PICTURED ABOVE: Desre Arnold, Clinical Nurse Consultant from Caboolture Hospital with the Care Alert Kit. Image courtesy of Metro North Hospital and Health Service.

‘For family members and carers of an unwell or dying person, the last thing they want to do is scramble through filing cabinets or paperwork to find out what their loved one’s wishes are, so the Care Alert Kit is designed to help them in that stressful time,’ Carey-Ann said.

Queensland Health and non-Queensland Health services, organisations and groups are welcome to order Care Alert Kits. Simply contact the team at CareAtEOL@health.qld.gov.au to place an order. Printing and shipping costs will apply.

For more information on Care at End of Life in Queensland, visit the Clinical Excellence Queensland Improvement Exchange, read the Care Alert Kit fact sheet or contact the Care at End of Life Project Team.

Last updated: 14 November 2019