“Allied Health Unlocking Capacity in Country Care Pods”
Angie Cook1, Anita Kent, Raslan Jaafar, Miel Jackson1Barossa Hills Fleurieu LHN, Gawler/Barossa, South Australia, Australia
Abstract
The Care Pod Restorative Care program has been operational at several peri-urban hospital sites in the Barossa, Hills, Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHFLHN) in South Australia since July 2020. This pilot project was implemented at short-notice to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting Adelaide metropolitan local health networks (LHNs) with bed flow and capacity challenges during high demand.
The program focuses on consumers that are on a long-stay trajectory and unable to be discharged from hospital due to system barriers (e.g., waiting NDIS). The model of care is restorative, focusing on consumer goals, wellbeing, and collaborative care whilst discharge planning is progressed.
The program consists of a specialised team of allied health clinicians, Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator, Nursing staff and local General Practitioners supporting a vulnerable and marginalised cohort of health consumers.
The presentation will outline an innovative solution to demand for acute metropolitan hospital beds whilst simultaneously working with a reablement focus to maintain wellbeing during often prolonged hospital admissions. Information will be presented to highlight benefits of the program categorised by the following:
-Metropolitan health system – increased bed capacity, reduced numbers of NDIS participants in hospital
-Peri-urban hospitals – sustainability of local hospitals utilising existing bed capacity
-Consumer – maintaining wellness through admission, robust complex discharge planning
-Allied health – multidisciplinary team approach, expertise leading the program outcomes, development of specialised skills
This presentation will be of interest to allied health professionals working in acute, subacute, multidisciplinary, peri-urban or rural hospital settings.
Biography
Angie is an experienced Social Worker graduating with a Bachelor Social Work from the University of South Australia in 2015 and has primarily worked in rural and regional settings, both in the public health and NGO sectors during this time. Angie has a keen interest in the NDIS and the intersection with the public health system, being instrumental in supporting an LHN-wide approach to NDIS participants in the peri-urban hospital setting. Angie has played an important role in the roll-out of the Care Pod program and currently provides clinical and operational leadership for the program.