IMProved Anticipatory Care and Treatment IMPACT

The IMPACT Service is aimed at people with Long term conditions and their carers. Our focus is to work with patients and carers on symptom recognition to prevent avoidable hospital admissions.

The main conditions include-:

• COPD
• Bronchiectasis
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• end stage Heart Failure
• Frail elderly.  

In the longer term IMPACT supports patients and carers to understand their long term conditions in order to make achievable lifestyle changes and improve medication concordance.

Any health professional may refer to IMPACT. All referrals will be reviewed prior to acceptance.

Please ensure the patient has consented to the referral.

Information to include with referral:

From acute services: hospital discharge letter with medication or IMPACT referral form

From community services: GP home visiting sheet via SCI Gateway

From services unable to access the above: Complete IMPACT referral form.

Who to refer:

Patients must

• Be aged over 16 years
• Be registered with an Edinburgh GP
• Have one or more long term condition
• Be willing to engage with the service, or have someone able to engage on their behalf

Patients must also meet at least 2 of the following criteria

• 2 or more hospital admissions related to a long term condition in the past 12 months
• 2 or more A&E attendances related to a long term condition in the past 12 months
• Uncontrolled symptoms/recent exacerbations of condition
• Polypharmacy (>6medications)with medication management issues and a long term condition

Who not to refer:

Patients who are

• Unwilling/unable to engage with IMPACT
• Requiring end of life care
• Patients whose only LTC is a mental health condition
• Alcohol/substance misuse compromising ability to engage with case management