Ms Amber Garfield1, Dr Casey Peiris1, Ms Belinda Woods1, Ms Jennifer Langford1, Ms Erin Bicknell1, A/Prof Fiona Dobson2, Dr Debra Virtue2
1The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia, 2The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Biography:
Amber Garfield, Occupational Therapist by background, works at the Royal Melbourne Hospital running an interprofessional student assessment lab and as an allied health workforce educator. Since graduating from La Trobe University with a Masters of Occupational Therapy Practice in 2015, She has worked in the areas of mental health, acute general medicine, inpatient rehabilitation, community rehabilitation, persistent pain clinic and as a disability liaison officer. Amber enjoys empowering patients, students and staff to reach their goals.
Abstract:
Background:
There is a high demand for clinical placements to enable allied health graduates to be work ready. To meet this demand, there is a need to develop innovative solutions. An interprofessional student assessment clinic could be a viable option to provide a valuable learning experience and minimise supervisor burden.
Aim:
To determine the feasibility (acceptability, demand and implementation and limited efficacy) of a student-led assessment clinic in a community rehabilitation setting.
Methods:
A feasibility study was conducted to determine acceptability (staff and student surveys), demand (patients willing to be assessed), implementation (supervisors assigning students, sessions completed, resources required and challenges) and limited efficacy (meeting student learning needs, wait times and supervisors’ burden). A convenience sample of students and staff were recruited over a 12-month period. Descriptive statistics were used to describe survey results and free text comments were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results:
During the study, 37 students from varied professions participated in the student clinic and assessed 171 patients. Thematic analysis and limited efficacy testing indicated improved student understanding of the roles of the interprofessional team, increased time for clinical supervisors and no impact on wait lists.
Discussion:
The lab was highly accepted by staff, students and patients. Outcomes indicated that while the lab reduced supervision burden and enhanced student learning, there was no impact on the service waitlist. This research demonstrates that an interprofessional student clinic in a community rehabilitation setting is feasible and has positive outcomes for staff and students.