Partnering for a National Advanced Practice Allied Health Approach
Carol McCrum1,2, Jo Morris1, Felicity Martin1, Paula Harding3,4, Deborah Lenaghan5
1Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT, Australia2University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom3Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia4Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia5Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Background:
Advanced Practice Allied Health (APAH) roles are well established in healthcare delivery, strategy and policy in several international settings. In Australia, there are pockets of APAH roles across jurisdictions supporting access, quality of care and vital cost-efficiencies. However, there are fragmented efforts between jurisdictions, and duplication and variation in policy, governance and training. The power of a collaborative approach is seen with the NHS AHP-into-Action strategy and Multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework. This collaboration has provided a clearly defined structure and standard for roles, training, governance and credentialing. Australia has opportunity to influence APAH workforce growth, flexibility, responsiveness and innovation in AP models of care.
Aim:
-To provide an overview of Advanced Practice impacts on the consumer journey, health outcomes and cost-benefit.
– To share ACT strategies on AP roles, workforce development, governance, education, legislation and policy to enable advanced practice in the ACT.
Method:
The ACT is proposing for jurisdictions to work in partnership, and a call to action to AH leadership and clinicians to develop a national multi-professional Advanced Clinical Practice approach. This aims for a similar overarching APAH framework, and a consistent definition and approach to training, governance and credentialling that allows workforce standards and mobility nationally.
Discussion:
Multiple challenges facing our healthcare systems and workforce are key drivers supporting APAH role and service model implementation. Allied health professions bring expertise to meet these challenges. Our goal is to build upon jurisdictional achievements and for a national approach to policy influence, capability recognition and consistency of advanced practice in Allied Health.
Mccrum C 1,2 , Morris J 1 , Martin F 1 , Harding P 3,4 , Lenaghan D 5
1 Canberra Health Services, Canberra ACT, Australia
2 University of Brighton, Eastbourne East Sussex, United Kingdom
3 Alfred Health, Melbourne Victoria, Australia
4 Barwon Health, Geelong Victoria, Australia
5 Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast Queensland, Australia
Biography
Dr Carol McCrum was an NHS Consultant Physiotherapist in Musculoskeletal Medicine from 2005-2020 and is now in an Advanced Practice role in Rheumatology at Canberra Health Services. Carol continues as a Visiting Research Fellow at University of Brighton and her involvement in national and international Musculoskeletal, Rheumatology and Advanced Practice projects. Carol is keen to support a national approach to enabling Allied Health Advanced Practice, quality assurance, education and workforce development in the Australian healthcare context.
Dr Jo Morris is Executive Director of Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care and Allied Health at Canberra Health Services leading complex healthcare teams and workforce transformation. Jo has worked as an Extended Scope Physiotherapist (ESP) in Orthopaedic Triage, Emergency Department (ED) and led the introduction of ESP roles for ACT Health. Jo was invited by Health Workforce Australia to support the national roll out of ESP roles in ED and completed her PhD evaluating ESP roles and the impacts for patients of waiting for orthopaedic care.
Felicity Martin is Senior Director of Allied Health at Canberra Health Services (CHS), Felicity works closely with Dr Morris in leading allied health workforce transformation. Felicity is working with Allied Health and Nursing colleagues at CHS where she commenced worked on a Multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework. She has established a number of Advanced Practice Allied Health roles and trainee positions leading efficient, accessible and safe models of care. Felicity’s background includes leading the Speech Pathology Team and Quality and Safety leadership roles.
Dr Paula Harding is Director of Allied Health at Barwon Health and also works for the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne in the Allied Health Workforce Unit. Prior to moving into leadership positions Paula led numerous national and state-based projects implementing Advanced Practice Services in Hospitals around Australia. Paula has also worked as an Advanced Practice physiotherapist in the Emergency and Orthopaedic Specialist Outpatient clinics since the inception of advanced practice services back in 2005.
Deborah Lenaghan is currently working as Team Leader – Emergency Department Physiotherapy Services for the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service. Deb is the former Chair of both the APA Emergency Department Network and Queensland Emergency Department Network. Deb remains keenly interested in developing the scope of practice for physiotherapists in Australia and actively seeks to further awareness of advanced practice both within physiotherapy and Allied Health in general.