Mid North Coast - Professional Development of Physiotherapy Staff
This project provided the opportunity for a Physiotherapist to be seconded to John Hunter Children's Hospital for a two week period to upgrade their clinical skills in a tertiary Paediatric environment. Professional development in current treatments for children with congenital orthopaedic problems and neurological disorders was facilitated by a mentor from the John Hunter Children's Hospital. The staff member then returned to conduct education sessions for colleagues within the Physiotherapy Department so that overall care within the Paediatric Unit was influenced positively by the secondment.
The project aimed to:
- Develop a networking relationship for Physiotherapists between the John Hunter Children's Hospital and the Coffs Harbour Health Campus
- Retain Physiotherapists in a regional hospital by assisting in their professional development
- Improve the standard of patient care within the Paediatric Unit of the Coffs Harbour Health Campus by developing the skills of the Physiotherapy staff
- Initiate education sessions on current Paediatric Physiotherapy topics for the staff of the Physiotherapy Department at Coffs Harbour
- Develop a mentoring program for Physiotherapists within the Physiotherapy Department that utilises the staff who have been seconded to John Hunter Children's Hospital.
The success of this project was measured by:
- Improved retention of specialist Physiotherapists in a regional referral hospital
- The establishment of networking and clinical support between staff from the John Hunter Children's Hospital and the Coffs Harbour Health Campus
- Congruence of practice between the outlying hospital and the tertiary referral centre
- The increase in the skills of the Physiotherapy staff providing a service to the Paediatric Unit of the Coffs Harbour Health Service
- The increased opportunity for professional development for Physiotherapists
- The ability to implement mentoring of staff within the Physiotherapy Department