Implementation and evaluation of innovative allied health interventions to improve early childhood outcomes: a regional South Australian experience
Renae Gibbs1, Amanda Schiller1, Wendy Thiele1, Saravana Kumar21Rural Support Service – SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia2Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Abstract
There is consistent research evidence which indicates that children in rural and remote Australia have poorer health outcomes compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Timely access to and availability of appropriate healthcare services is critical in supporting the healthy development of children, without which there can be lifelong consequences. However, health workforce shortages, tyranny of distance and inadequate resourcing mean these services are often not available to children and families in need. As a means of addressing this challenge, the Rural Support Service in collaboration with the Child Health and Development (CHAD) teams in regional Local Health Networks, have implemented a range of allied health initiatives to improve outcomes for 0 – 4 year-old children referred to CHAD in regional South Australia. These initiatives are client/family-centred and delivered by multidisciplinary allied health professionals. To date, initiatives that have been implemented include the Learn, Engage and Play therapeutic playgroup program, a toddler expressive language pathway and program, a toileting pathway and a fussy feeding pathway. These initiatives have been trialled across several sites in regional South Australia resulting in improved access for children and their families. In partnership with an external evaluator and utilising the Institute of Medicine’s health care quality framework, the impact of these initiatives is currently being evaluated. Findings to date indicate that access to timely and targeted allied health services have resulted in early identification of those in need and delivery of effective and appropriate interventions which are valued by parents and families.
Biography
Renae and Amanda are Project Manager and Senior Project Manager with Rural Support Service, SA Health. Renae and Amanda, as allied health professionals, are passionate about rural health and addressing the historical inequities in health for rural communities. They have decades of combined clinical experience working in regional areas and have significant track record in the development and implementation of innovative models of care to improve the outcomes for children and families.