Utilising capacity in a rural hospital to support older people requiring hospital care: Kilcoy Connect.

Problem: The increasing specialisation of medical care in larger centres is contributing to the declining use of rural hospitals that are close to larger centres, risking bed closures or even facility closure.

Design: An allied health-led model of care supported by telehealth geriatrician services was developed and implemented in eight beds in a rural hospital to manage older patients needing geriatric evaluation and management.

Setting: The project was set in Kilcoy Hospital, a small facility north of Caboolture in Queensland, Australia.