Stellar Engagement at STARS
Kym Murphy1 1Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
The Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) in Brisbane, Queensland, opened a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit (BIRU), to improve access and quality of specialised rehabilitation services for patients. Our clinicians are experienced and know the business well, but our consumers know it better. Through an allied health led co-design process, we enabled consumers (professionals and those with a lived experience) to partner as equals, listen and learn to make decisions together.
Interviews with consumers, who had received rehabilitation after a brain injury, identified the need for more information about the BIRU and the journey of rehabilitation and recovery. Ambulatory services did not always meet their needs and expectations.
Fifty-five participants, contributed a combined total of 110 hours, to work through the objectives:
-How might we provide information for patients and their families so that they have the right information, at the right time, in the right format
-How might we provide services which meets the ongoing rehabilitation needs of patients in their transition home after inpatient brain injury rehabilitation
Co-designed, multi modal resources, including videos, websites and handouts, are under development for consumers to access on referral and throughout their rehabilitation journey.
In addition, a pathway for ambulatory service care is under development, based on consumer preference for goal attainment, therapy intensity and locality of service provision.
As reflected by a clinician, the outputs of the co-design process were superior to their assumptions of patient needs. Whilst co-design may be resource intensive, the value of the outcome is immeasurable.
Biography
With a clinical background in occupational therapy, Kym has worked across the healthcare continuum in Queensland and Western Australia. She has a strong interest in development of clinicians and implementing service improvement initiatives for optimised patient experience and care. Kym currently works as a project officer, with the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Projects, at the Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service in Brisbane, Queensland. Kym has a Graduate Certificate in Digital Health and is currently completing her research masters. Outside of work Kym enjoys time spent at the beach and chasing around her niece and nephew.