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The Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) has released the 2nd edition of the Yellow Envelope, an initiative designed to ensure seamless and safe transfer for aged care residents moving in and out of hospitals.

The Yellow Envelope helps facilitate this transfer of care for aged care residents by ensuring the necessary information is included in the clinical handover, providing residents with safe and continuous quality care communicated via the envelope. The tool has proven invaluable in maintaining consistency in the transfer process, particularly given the mix of nurses and agency staff.

Since its initial release in 2021, the Yellow Envelope has been distributed by WNSW PHN and used by residential aged care facilities in Western and Far West NSW. In preparation for the updated envelope, feedback was sought from local Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) and Local Health Districts (LHDs) to ensure the Yellow Envelope continues to be a useful tool in these facilities. Maree Nott, Health Information Manager from Mudgee Health Service, was among those consulted for feedback and explained how this process was beneficial to ensure communication is clear between services.  

“The opportunity to have input into projects like the co-design of the Yellow Envelope helps to improve efficiency and efficacy of communication between the health service and aged care facilities, which contributes to building better relationships between health care providers and enhancing the experience and outcomes for patients/residents” Maree explained.  

This collaborative process also allowed all parties to contribute changes that would enhance the tool’s usefulness for all involved. Now, with the release of its 2nd edition, the envelope has been adjusted based on this feedback and is available to order for RACHs located in the Western and Far West Local Health Districts.

Helen Harwood, Registered Nurse from Pioneer Whiddon Mudgee, has been using the Yellow Envelope in her facility and attests to its value for staff in aged care. "The consistency of information that flows can be quite haphazard if they don’t have the same tools,” Helen noted. “The Yellow Envelope is a very helpful tool, so it sits on our desk here.”

In addition to standardising information transfer, the Yellow Envelope also serves as a prompt for the necessary details during a resident's transfer. Ms Harwood emphasised, "The Yellow Envelope helps with the consistency of information too. It’s a really important thing to have when sharing information."

Aged care is a central focus of the Western NSW Primary Health Network. Aged care is a central focus of the Western NSW Primary Health Network. We are committed to improving the coordination of care for people living in residential aged care in Western and Far West NSW, so they receive the right care in the right place at the right time. The Yellow Envelope is just one initiative that ensures the safe and continuous quality care for people living in residential aged care.

For more information or to order the Yellow Envelope, please visit: www.wnswphn.org.au/yellowenvelope