Tracheostomy Team - TRAMS Austin Health

The Tracheostomy Review and Management Service (TRAMS) is an innovative consultative service developed at Austin Health in 2002. This expert TRAMS tracheostomy team consists of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and speech pathologists. The TRAMS team has managed over 600 patients who have a tracheostomy tube and who are cared for outside of the ICU. The tracheostomy team was highly commended during the 2005 Victorian Health Care Awards in the Innovations in Models of Care category.

TRAMS Mission

	To ensure safe and quality tracheostomy care
	To provide ongoing education to patients, families and caregivers
	To assist with equipment, education and support of patients in the community
	To contribute to the knowledge base for tracheostomy care

Services Provided by Tracheostomy Team

	Twice weekly ward rounds
	Consultations as needed
	Liaison with ICU on new referrals and complex cases
	Support and education
	Assessment of readiness for decannulation
	Attendance at family meetings
	Creation of centre-wide interdisciplinary policy & procedures
	Literature review and benchmarking with other experts
	Critical incident review and clinical governance (quality and safety)
	Competency training programs
	TRAMS Community Link for patients with permanent tracheostomy in the community