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Embracing Opportunity

Embracing Opportunity. Developing Rural Allied Health Assistant Positions at Deniliquin Community Health. Deniliquin. Town of less than 8,000 people. District Hospital and Community Health Centre Now part of the Murrumbidgee Local Health Network Great place to live and work!.

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Embracing Opportunity

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  1. Embracing Opportunity Developing Rural Allied Health Assistant Positions at Deniliquin Community Health

  2. Deniliquin • Town of less than 8,000 people. • District Hospital and Community Health Centre • Now part of the Murrumbidgee Local Health Network • Great place to live and work!

  3. DCHC Allied Health Services • 2 FTE Speech Pathology • 1 FTE Dietetics • 1 FTE Physiotherapy • 2 FTE Occupational Therapy • Frequent vacancies due to maternity leave and relocations. • Difficulty filling these positions and attracting people to country areas. • Covering a large geographical area of Western NSW. Including border areas along the Murray river.

  4. Prior to May 2010 we had never had Allied Health Assistant positions. • During the initial project there were mixed feelings about the push for more AHA rather than increasing AHP. • For over 2 years now we have been EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITY!

  5. The Opportunity • 2006 Invitation to attend Reframing the Future workshops with the former GSAHS. • Identify how an AHA could be used in different settings of acute, rural and remote practice. • Preparation of job description for each of these roles • Working with TAFE NSW in developing appropriate subject outlines for the Cert IV AHA course. • AHP have been involved in the development of teaching resources and some teaching of the discipline specific Allied Health electives. • 2007-2010 Allied health Professionals have been supported in completing Cert IV Training and Assessment. This has helped in supporting AHA in their training and understanding the TAFE process. Does not provide supervision skills that are required to effectively supervise AHA.

  6. The Opportunity • We put our hand up and actively encouraged management to choose us as a pilot site for an AHA trainee position. • Recruitment of 2FTE Rural Allied Health Assistant positions. 1-permanent, 1- 2 year trainee. • These positions work across disciplines with Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Physiotherapy. (when the positions are full!!)

  7. Embracing those opportunities • Developing the roles of the AHA • Totally new positions has allowed us to work collaboratively as a group to develop the job roles. • At times challenging as we all think our disciplines are the most important. • Developed protocols and procedures for the completion of tasks within each discipline. • Used a timetable as a guide of sharing the assistants time across disciplines, though this is flexible to meet demands. • Keeping in mind the clinical governance issues of each discipline and our employing body.

  8. Roles of new positions • AHA are able to carry out tasks which do not require specific clinical judgements. • Clinical roles • Client Contact with individuals and groups. • Clinical support • Intake • Administrative • Files!!! • Correspondence

  9. Speech Pathology • Conduct client Speech and Language programs as set out by the Speech Pathologist. Both adult and paediatric programs. • Develop and create Boardmaker resources. • Organise and operate the referral intake system. • Prepare programs as set by the Speech Pathologist. • Assist with the implementation of group therapy programs.

  10. Dietetics • Assist in the running of regular clinics by conducting reviews of the program as set by the Dietitian. Involves taking diet history, height & weight. • Have been involved in RESET program- lifestyle modification program for people at risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.AHA leading exercise component of the program. • Letters to referring doctors

  11. Occupational Therapy • Organising and running the equipment loan pool. • Delivery and pick-up of assistive devices • Organising quotes for equipment • Assisting the OT with splinting • Conducting handwriting programs as set by OT. • Skilled liaison with home modification providers, Enable NSW etc. • Hand therapy programs as set by OT

  12. Physiotherapy • Coordinate intake and appointments. • Assist with inpatient mobility programs. • Stepping On Falls Prevention Group. • Assist rehabilitation clients with exercise programs set by Physiotherapists from large referring hospitals. • Administration and filing.

  13. Benefits • All disciplines have seen a decrease in waiting times for access to services. • Provide more frequent services to clients who may have previously only received infrequent services or none at all. • Having AHA has enabled us to continue to provide a high standard of services even with multiple vacancies and significant increases in demands for services. eg. Introduction of TRACS program with no extra FTE for OT lead to a significant increase in services . • Focus on the quality of the service we provide. • One AHA is now studying AH at university.

  14. Challenges Change in both AHP and AHA staff. Everyone works in a slightly different way and as we have to adjust when new people come into those roles. Whether that be new AHP or new AHA. Generic AHA positions across disciplines without Allied Health Team Leader. Can be difficult to negotiate. We have an AH team consisting of 12 people with no team leader. It is very evident at times that a team leader role is required. No FTE allocated to supervision of AHA. Done within existing clinical role. Success is dependent on having a committed driving force from all involved. Cannot be driven by one person.

  15. Why has it worked so well for us? • Being involved from the beginning project. • Having our AHA complete their Cert IV while working with each discipline in record times of 8 months! • Support from our local management and the AHA project coordinator. • Amazingly talented AHA who brought with them to the new positions existing skills and knowledge. • Dedicated AHP who have all contributed to the teaching and role development of these new positions.

  16. What we hope to improve….. • Fill our vacant AH positions!! Seem to always have a vacancy of some sort. • Involve the AHA in Cardiac and Pulmonary rehab programs. • Continue to develop new roles for our AHA as their skills grow with experience. • Quality projects looking to measure the effectiveness of the AHA positions within our organisation. • A structure for Allied Health within our organisation to facilitate effective supervision and line management of AHP and AHA.

  17. EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY • Having AHA enhances your service capabilities. • Introducing and developing these positions has not been without its challenges and we need to continually examine what we do and why we do it that way. • Come work in Deniliquin, we have great views of the river and a fantastic Allied Health team!!!

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