Ms Aleysha Martin1,2, Dr Liisa Laakso1
1Mater Research Institute – University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 2Mater Hospital Brisbane, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Aleysha has worked as an occupational therapist at the Mater Hospital Brisbane since 2017 and completed her PhD with Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland in 2020-2024. Aleysha’s research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Queensland Health, Mater Research Institute (MRI), the Mater Foundation and the University of Queensland (UQ). Since 2022, she has published 6 peer-reviewed research papers and presented at numerous conferences and events, including 3 as an invited speaker. Her main research interests are health services research and innovative models of healthcare delivery. She is currently pursuing opportunities to translate her transdisciplinary research.
Abstract:
Aims:
Allied health professionals have overlapping skills, which can be an issue when assessments are unnecessary repeated. At the Mater Hospital Brisbane, overlapping skills were identified and incorporated into a transdisciplinary assessment model. The model was implemented on the acute stroke unit, where one professional completed the assessment on behalf of the allied health team. The aim was to save staff time and organisational costs, while providing high-quality healthcare. The purpose of the presentation is to inform healthcare professionals/managers why they should implement a transdisciplinary model in their workplace.
Methods:
A pre-/post- study was conducted over 22-months. Patients with stroke received usual allied health assessment (pre-phase) or the transdisciplinary assessment (post-phase). Assessment times were recorded, and medical record audits completed. Multivariable linear regression estimated assessment time differences. Cost minimisation and sensitivity analyses estimated organisational cost savings.
Results:
When allied health professionals used the transdisciplinary assessment (N=116), 37.6 minutes were saved (95% CI −47.5, −27.7; p<0.001), the median number of occasions of service reduced from 8 to 5 per patient (p=0.011), the estimated cost saving was $379.45 per patient (probabilistic 95% CI −487.15, −271.48). The cost saving increased by $31.71-$62.83 when Queensland senior wage rates (HP4.1-HP4.4) were applied. Patient safety, patient outcomes, and adherence to stroke guidelines were maintained.
Conclusions:
Transdisciplinary stroke assessment at the Mater Hospital Brisbane was safe, saved staff time, and reduced healthcare costs. By incorporating overlapping allied health skills into the transdisciplinary assessment model, unnecessary assessment duplication was reduced, making the most of the allied health workforce.