Monash Health is improving the way we journey patients through our health system – ensuring the right clinician is referring the right care at the right time – to simplify clinical decision-making, improve our efficiency, and ultimately deliver a better and more efficient experience for our patients.
The reform will embed processes to promote home-based care, offer a more streamlined referral pathway, and provide more transparency in waitlist data.
Read more about our aims for Access Reform here.
Information for referring teams
What ARAS does
The Aged and Rehabilitation Access Service (ARAS) offers comprehensive specialist assessment and liaison to optimise the wellbeing of older people, people with disabilities, and those requiring rehabilitation.
There are two distinct referral pathways to access Aged and Rehabilitation Care (ARC) services and expertise:
- Medical Consult to Rehabilitation Medicine or Geriatric Medicine
For when a patient requires a specialist medical review
- Referral to ARAS Assessment Clinician
For when a patient has completed their acute-level care and requires follow-up ARC or TCP (non-weightbearing patients), or early support with complex discharge planning
ARAS Assessment Clinicians offer early identification, triage, coordination, assessment and liaison with acute and subacute providers to support the development of management plans and patient flow through aged and rehabilitation services within Monash Health.
Who the Aged and Rehabilitation Access Service is
Our service comprises:
- Geriatric Medicine Consultants
- Rehabilitation Medicine Consultants and Registrars
- Nursing and Allied Health Assessment Clinicians
We have dedicated resources across each Monash Health acute site.
How to refer to ARAS?
For referrals to a Medical Consult:
- Generate an EMR Order
- Type ‘Consult to Rehabilitation Medicine’ or ‘Consult to Geriatric Medicine’. This is a medical-to-medical referral.
For referrals to Aged Rehabilitation Access Service (ARAS) Assessment Clinician:
- Generate an EMR Order
- Type ‘Referral to Aged and Rehabilitation Access Service (Initial)’. Any member of the MDT can complete this referral.
More information and resources
Aged and Rehabilitation Care Access Procedure
Ordering a Consult or Referral QRG
ACAS/RACF/TCP/Respite Pathways
Information pack – Access Reform
Aged and Rehabilitation Care Access Reform – Information for Referring Teams
This Access Reform is live from Wednesday 9 August.
Please reach out to the Aged and Rehabilitation Access Service Team Leader if you have any questions.
Approved by Stuart Cavill, Interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer Kingston, Aged and Rehabilitation and Adult Inpatient Allied Health