Building for a brighter future - GHA Central

Review of Operations: Allied Health
Occupational Therapy (OT)
The OT department provides services
to hospital clients including, the
Emergency department and the
Pre-admission Clinic. Services are
also provided to aged care facilities.
Outpatient services are provided to
the CRC which provides rehabilitation
to clients who are frail, disabled,
chronically ill or recovering from
traumatic injury or surgery. The CRC
occasions of service for hospital
inpatients increased by 5% to 2300.
Outpatient occasions of service
remained the same as last year at 700.
Home visits increased by 7% to 310
this year. A significant achievement
for the department this year was the
development and implementation of
an electronic loan equipment register.
The register has improved efficiencies
in the tracking and management of
loan equipment. Funding was approved
in March for the continuation of the full
time position for one of the Grade 1
Occupational Therapists allowing the
department to maintain its levels of
service. Risk management and manual
handling education for Allied Health
staff was completed in conjunction
with Physiotherapy to assess, manage
and record risk management strategies
for therapeutic/rehabilitative manual
handling of patients and equipment
tasks.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy provides services to
hospital inpatients, the Emergency
department, the Pre-Admission Clinic
and aged care residents. Services to
outpatients are provided through
the Outpatient Physiotherapy and
Hydrotherapy services, CRC, Cardiac
and Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
programs. Community clients access
services through the Rural Allied
Health team, Post Acute Care and
the Continence clinic. A strength and
balance training rehabilitation group
was established in conjunction with
the CRC to rehabilitate clients at
high risk of falling. An electronic
management system introduced for
the outpatient service is expected to
minimise waiting times for clients.
Inpatient occasions of service increased
by 13.5%. Outpatient occasions of
service decreased by 4%. Outpatient
waiting list times decreased by 10%
to 17 days from 19 days last year.
Nutrition and Dietetics
This year, the Nutrition and Dietetics
department developed an inpatient
malnourishment screening kit to
identify patients who are malnourished
or at risk of malnourishment. Early
implementation of dietary changes
can provide improved recovery
outcomes for the patient. As well as
inpatients, the department provides
services to long term chronic illness
sufferers and works closely with the
Health Promotion team to develop
programs specifically targeted to at
risk groups. Occasions of service
were 2856, 106 more than last year.
Speech Therapy
Speech Pathology outpatient occasions
of service totalled 500 this year, an
increase of 12.8%. The introduction
of block therapy allowed more clients
to be seen. A patient satisfaction
survey demonstrated a high degree of
satisfaction by users of the outpatient
Profile
The Allied Health department consists of Occupational Therapy (OT), Nutrition
and Dietetics, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology. They provide a service to
clients during the hospital phase, in rehabilitation, in residential aged care settings
and with home follow-up. They work together as a multidisciplinary team with
other clinical and non-clinical staff to bring about the best outcome for each client.
Objectives
1. Update CRC facilities through the Pathways Home Project
2. Establish a new loan equipment tracking system
3. Provide training for Clinical Nurse Managers in screening for dysphagia
4. Improve Occupational Therapy department written procedures and protocols
Outcomes
1. CRC to be redeveloped under Cooinda Lodge. Plans finalised and tenders
invited
2. Electronic loan equipment tracking system developed and implemented
ensuring accurate recording of borrowers
3. Ward 3 Clinical Nurse Managers trained to screen for dysphagia in stroke
patients
4. Occupational Therapy administrative procedures resource package developed
and implemented improving access to information and procedures
Future Directions
Physiotherapist
Angela Jacob
assists Cardiac
Rehabilitation
Centre client
Mary Frigo on
the exercise
bike in the
rehabilitation
gymnasium.
service. Department staff
providedtraining for Medical Ward
Acting Clinical Nurse Managers to
screen for dysphagia in stroke patients,
allowing for timely provision of oral
medications, food and drink. This
training resulted in 42% of stroke
patients being able to safely resume
oral feeding and medication, instead
of delaying this until a Speech
Pathology assessment.
➤ To develop a therapeutic/rehabilitative manual handling of patients resource
manual
➤ To develop and implement a hemiplegic shoulder risk assessment and
management tool
➤ To commence redevelopment of CRC facilities under Cooinda Lodge
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