ABSTRACT
Hong Kong has a pluralistic healthcare system comprising a highly subsidized public sector funded by general government revenues, along with a private sector that is predominately accessed by fee-paying patients and those who are covered by employment-related benefits. Healthcare services in the Hospital Authority (HA) are mainly utilized by the elderly. In 2013–2014, the total number of elderly patients discharged from Hong Kong's public hospitals totaled 644,836, representing 51" of total patient days. In 2012, the HA developed the Strategic Service Framework (SSF) for elderly patients—incorporating goals, objectives, and priorities for the next 5 years. When a patient is registered in the Integrated Care and Discharge Support (ICDS) program, a link nurse collaborates with a geriatrician to perform a comprehensive assessment for the patient's pre- and post-discharge plan. The Community Health Call Centre (CHCC) is a nurse-led program that was established to proactively integrate information sharing, medical informatics, and tele-nursing practice.
