Can allied health have an impact on hospital admissions and emergency department presentations: evidence from the literature
Esther Tian1, Saravana Kumar11University Of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Abstract
Health care globally is facing significant challenges. An ageing population, rise of chronic conditions, advancements in technology coupled with meagre resources and workforce challenges have all resulted in increasing burden on the health system and its stakeholders. While several strategies are currently being trialled to alleviate the pressure on the health system, an important strategy is to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation. From a patient perspective, this will ensure the right patient gets access to the right care, at the right time and at the right place (e.g., in their community). From a health system perspective, this will avoid misuse of meagre hospital resources and promote evidence-informed community-based care. As the second largest health workforce, allied health professions are ideally placed to help avoid unnecessary hospitalisation due to its focus on whole person approach, strong multidisciplinary approach, and wide-spread reach in the community. Guided by best practice standards for rapid review, this research reviewed the global literature on the impacts of community-based allied health services on hospital admissions and emergency department presentations. Commercially produced and grey literature were searched across a range of sources which yielded more than 5000 citations. Evidence from the literature indicates that allied health can play an important role in supporting people in the community through screening, timely diagnosis, early intervention and ongoing follow up for a range of health conditions (e.g., orthopaedics, cancer, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis). While being cost-effective, allied health interventions can also minimise burden on the hospital systems as well as contribute to patient satisfaction.
Biography
Saravana Kumar is the Professor of Allied Health and Health Services Research at University of South Australia. He is also the Professor of Allied Health at the Department of Health and Wellbeing, South Australia. He has more than 20 years of professional experience spanning clinical practice (in manipulative and sports physiotherapy), research (health services research, evidence-based practice, evidence implementation, quality and safety) and teaching (undergraduate and postgraduate allied health disciplines, evidence-based practice, and research methods). He is a passionate advocate for allied health and spearhead numerous initiatives to promote and celebrate the impact of allied health.