Mrs Reema Aruldass1, Rachel Tambyah1, Kate Rowntree1, Sarah Crisafulli1, Sue-Ellen Hogg1, Alison McCarthy1
1Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Australia
Biography:
Alison McCarthy is a speech pathologist with a clinical background in rehabilitation and aged care across acute, subacute and community settings and has held roles as Allied Health Team Leader in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. Alison is passionate about providing wholistic and interdisciplinary interventions in order to provide patient centered care that is driven by patient goals and priorities. Alison is inspired by the ways Allied Health can work collectively to assist patients to achieve outcomes that are far greater than what we can achieve if bound by limitations of staying within traditional scopes of practice.
Abstract:
Movement disorders like Parkinson’s Disease impact function and personal wellbeing, with needs changing across time. The Integrated Movement Assessment Program (I-MAP) provides a unique approach to interdisciplinary care by addressing goals including symptom and wellbeing management, actions promoting future outcomes through anticipatory education, forward planning, and lifestyle adjustments.
Prior to I-MAP, individuals with movement disorders were accessing multiple health services that did not offer holistic planning, joint clinician goal-setting and specific disease management education. Research indicates that a map is beneficial to help patients with movement disorders, pack and prepare for their journey, and anticipate changes throughout disease progression. Recognising the importance of this guidance and identifying the gap in such supports, I-MAP was established to provide a ‘map’ for individuals navigating this journey.
Together, I-MAP’s Rehabilitation Physician, Physiotherapist, Social Worker, and Speech Pathologist deliver interdisciplinary assessments, identifying impacts of motor and non-motor symptoms, goal-setting, and short-term interventions. I-MAP provides resources and recommendations for onward referrals, and prioritises mapping out current symptom education, whilst empowering patients with knowledge and skills to manage future symptoms and changes, thus combatting the impending feeling of overwhelm. Some outcomes measures being recorded are frail scale, health confidence score, number of onward referrals, hospital avoidance and patient experience.
I-MAP’s tailored approach equips patients with confidence to manage symptoms, be fully informed and prepared for disease progression. Overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients and carers has indicated they appreciate I-MAP’s guidance and space for holistic health discussions. The positive clinical and economic outcomes will also be discussed.