Training and development for Allied Health Clinicians working with children
The project will be lead by an existing clinician, skilled and interested in provision of care to children to:
- Preliminary consultation has identified the following topics/ issues:
- Assessment of premature infants e,g, NSMDA
- Hip dysplasia
- Talipes
- Current treatment for Cerebral Palsy - Botox therapy
- Facilitate the provision of these training and secondment opportunities
- Research existing models of growth and development clinics for children
- Facilitate, with suitable sites, establishment of model of multidisciplinary and coordinated monitoring of growth and development
- Develop appropriate discharge and referral procedures in keeping with relevant policies and in conjunction with the allied health clinicians and teaching hospital personnel.
Aims and objectives
- Provide training and skill development opportunities for allied health clinicians working with children.
- Develop procedures and guidelines for best model of care to this client group from allied health clinicians, including assessment, intervention and monitoring procedures.
Expected outcomes
- Training and development plan developed and implemented including localised workshops using tertiary centre experts and secondments to tertiary units
- The development of documented models of care as well as multidisciplinary and coordinated monitoring of growth and development of children
- Develop appropriate discharge and referral procedures in keeping with relevant policies and in conjunction with the allied health clinicians and teaching hospital personnel.
- Improved patient outcomes form care delivered close to home
- Establishment of professional intra and inter area networks
Key performance indicators
The success of the project will be measured by:
- Documented assessment, intervention and monitoring guidelines
- Documented discharge and referral processes
- Evidence of improved patient outcomes via pre and post treatment measures
- Evidence of increased staff satisfaction with training and development opportunities (pre and post training measures)
- Evidence of increased staff satisfaction with professional network activity (pre and post training / project measures)
- Evidence of increased stakeholder satisfaction with coordinated care provision (pre and post training measures)
- Produce a quality improvement report documenting the evidence gained from the pre and post satisfaction measures
Progress
Due to the extremely late allocation of funds the most significant challenge for this project was to maximise outcomes of the project given the timeline for completion by the end of June 2008.
A workshop was conducted for all Paediatric Therapists in the Richmond network. There were difficulties with consultation for the proposed content given the tight turn around on time frames. Mater Children’s Hospital team were able to be engaged, feedback from local therapists has been very positive.
The Pre and Post evaluation tools developed required Ethics Committee approval which could not be gained before the June deadline and will need to be implemented and reported on by clinic staff.
A premature clinic has been established and conducted monthly. Preliminary evaluation has been very positive. The completed evaluation should be available at the end of December 2008.
For more information contact:
Luke Schultz
Clinical Senior Physiotherapist
Lismore Base Hospital
02 6620 2155