Working Through COVID – one year of activity in an Allied Health Assistant service
Katrine Nehyba1 1Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group, Murdoch, WA, Australia
Abstract
Background
Perth experienced a COVID wave at the start of 2022 and the Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group Allied Health Assistant (AHA) Service spent most of the year working with some degree of COVID precautions, for example cancellation of group therapy; cancellation of outpatient services; needing to assist with nursing duties. This descriptive study summarises one year of activity undertaken by the AHA Service in 2022.
Method
Data was collected retrospectively from the Allied Health System – a data entry system used by staff to record their clinical activity each day.
Results
Inpatient activity as measured by Occasions of Service (OOS) was lowest in January, April and December. The highest rates of unplanned leave due to COVID were in May and June, however there was minimal reduction in inpatient activity. Outpatient activity was reduced from March to August. The AHA service secured additional permanent FTE for leave cover in May.
Trends in activity varied between different clinical areas. Activity in the Mental Health Unit remained consistent each month. There was an increase in OOS in the Spinal Unit between May and September, associated with increased admissions. Most AHAs work with at least two disciplines (Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy/Speech Pathology) – activity per profession remained consistent with allocated FTE.
Discussion
The reduction in outpatient activity, combined with additional FTE, helped to maintain inpatient OOS during COVID. Variations in clinical activity occurred for different patient groups, however the AHA Service demonstrated flexibility and resilience to meet these additional pressures brought by the pandemic.
Biography
Biography to come.