Tara Brady2, Mrs Cherise Humphries1
1Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, Australia, 2Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Warrawong, Australia
Abstract:
The demand on inpatient health services continues to increase with rising patient volumes and a greater complexity of care needs. Allied Health professionals play a key role in meeting the demand and on the hospital’s access and flow but are often constrained by fluctuating caseloads and staffing limitations.
Previously, there was no consistent language or method for communicating the situation Allied Health were experiencing with staffing or demand on a day-to-day basis in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.
A Short-Term Escalation Plan (STEP) was developed for all inpatient Allied Health across the district. The plan was developed through multiple collaborative workshops with key stakeholders. Understanding key levers for Allied Health was an important part of the process.
The result was a STEP for Allied Health that identified trigger thresholds for staffing and demand as well as a consistent and effective short-term escalation action plan for each STEP level to manage workforce shortages and surges in demand.
This presentation will explore uptake of Allied Health STEPs, summarise how STEPS are collated for various audiences across disciplines, sites and district and the impact of having clear, consistent communication and actions especially in high demand periods. Preliminary feedback is positive, with an established pathway for increasing support having potential to positively impact Allied Health clinicians on the ground.