Customised Home

Modifications Education

Achieving Best practice Standards & Functional

Environments for clients

Alison FinneyAlison Finney

Calvary Health Care Kogarah

April 2016

OT & Home modifications

• Plays a role in maximising independence in ADL’s• Plays a role in maximising independence in ADL’s

• Training is often not funded or specific to area

policies

• OT skill levels & access to training varies, having a • OT skill levels & access to training varies, having a

direct impact on accuracy & patient outcomes

OT Services in SESLHD

Home Modifications Working Party

• Formed in 2012

• Representatives from three sites across the LHD –

Calvary Health Care Kogarah, The Sutherland

Hospital & The St George Hospital.

• To provide a consistent approach to provision of • To provide a consistent approach to provision of

home modification prescription for clients across the

LHD.

Determining Current Practice

• Review of existing policies & procedures across

individual sites

• Inconsistencies identified between sites

▫ Business processes

▫ OT skill levels▫ OT skill levels

▫ Training exposure

▫ Frequency of HMODS prescription and

▫ Resources available e.g. manuals and skilled peers

Objectives

• Business rules to ensure

consistency

• Documentation template

• Minor home modifications

manualmanual

• Customised minor home

modifications training program

Developing standardisation in business

processes

• Business Rules developed

▫ Follow up of home

modifications

▫ Release of Information

Business Rules – Follow Up

• Details the required processes for

reviewing minor and major home

modifications

• Home Modifications Follow Up

Form producedForm produced

Business Rules – Release of Information

• Details the required process for

releasing information to builders,

client’s and/or relatives

• Ensure appropriate information is

provided to private builders,

clients and/or relatives wishing to clients and/or relatives wishing to

carry out minor or major

modifications independently

Minor Home Mods TemplateLetter head

Client details

OT contact details

Date

Client details

Location of modification

Photo with dimensions

Written SpecificationsWritten Specifications

Drawing not to scaleDisclaimer

Page Number

Minor Home Modifications Manual

• Standards AS1428• Standards AS1428

• Grabrails

• Assessment Process

• Toilet rails

• Shower rails

• Bath rails

• Handrails and Stairs

• Ramps• Ramps

• Waterproofing

• Electrical Standards

• Documentation

Determining training requirements

• Staff surveys across the four sites

were conducted to determine:

▫ OT training needs

▫ Previous courses attended

▫ Topics to be included in future

trainingtraining

▫ Method of training, frequency

& duration

Are training needs being met?

Would therapists attend training if

provided?

Program Content

• Application of the Australian

Standards

• OT / Builder responsibilities

• Handrails/grabrails• Handrails/grabrails

• Threshold & steps ramps

Program Content

• Electrical Standards

• Miscellaneous Modifications

• Documentation

▫ Introduction to template▫ Introduction to template

▫ Scope of work examples

▫ Referrals processes (e.g. under

65 years & over 65 years)

Program Content

• Alternatives to home

modifications

• Business Processes

▫ Follow up

▫ Release of Information▫ Release of Information

Program Content

• 2 local Service Providers

▫ Intro to service

▫ Referral requirements

▫ Expectations of OT’s

▫ Funding available

▫ Q&AQ&A

• Demonstration of frequently

used materials

Program Content

• Practical Sessions

▫ Handrails

▫ Grabrails

• Case studies

• Documentation & referral

example

Pilot Program

• Piloted in November 2014

• 20 therapists attended

• Varying levels of experience

• Full day session

• Affordable and accessible

Training Program Feedback

Training Program Feedback

Ongoing training

• Additional two courses run

• Refinement of program content & resources

• Support from Heads of Department

• Expectation that all new staff attendExpectation that all new staff attend

Training Program Feedback

Where to from here?

• Ongoing minor modifications

education

• Ongoing review of best practice

guidelines to ensure relevance

and accuracy

• Survey of clients and local service

providers

Major Bathroom Modifications Training

• Major Bathroom Modifications

Manual

• Major bathroom modifications

training program

▫ Clinical reasoning▫ Clinical reasoning

▫ Report writing

▫ Diagram specifications

Training Program Benefits

• Positive impact on patient outcomes

• Accuracy and effectiveness of minor modification

recommendations

• Cost effectiveness for clients

• Consistency across LHD in relation to local policies

and procedures

Training Program Benefits

• Increased collaboration across sites & with external

service providers

• Therapist empowerment by having access to

education & resources

• Mutual respect for each others roles and

professional boundaries