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

Embracing Opportunity

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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!. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Embracing Opportunity

Embracing Embracing OpportunityOpportunity

Developing Rural Allied Developing Rural Allied Health Assistant Positions at Health Assistant Positions at Deniliquin Community HealthDeniliquin Community Health

Page 2: Embracing Opportunity

DeniliquinDeniliquin

• Town of less than Town of less than 8,000 people.8,000 people.

• District Hospital District Hospital and Community and Community Health Centre Health Centre

• Now part of the Now part of the Murrumbidgee Murrumbidgee Local Health Local Health NetworkNetwork

• Great place to live Great place to live and work!and work!

Page 3: Embracing Opportunity

DCHC Allied Health DCHC Allied Health Services Services

• 2 FTE Speech Pathology2 FTE Speech Pathology• 1 FTE Dietetics1 FTE Dietetics• 1 FTE Physiotherapy1 FTE Physiotherapy• 2 FTE Occupational Therapy2 FTE Occupational Therapy• Frequent vacancies due to maternity leave Frequent vacancies due to maternity leave

and relocations.and relocations.• Difficulty filling these positions and Difficulty filling these positions and

attracting people to country areas.attracting people to country areas.• Covering a large geographical area of Covering a large geographical area of

Western NSW. Including border areas along Western NSW. Including border areas along the Murray river.the Murray river.

Page 4: Embracing Opportunity
Page 5: Embracing Opportunity
Page 6: Embracing Opportunity

• Prior to May 2010 we had never had Prior to May 2010 we had never had Allied Health Assistant positions.Allied Health Assistant positions.

• During the initial project there were During the initial project there were mixed feelings about the push for mixed feelings about the push for more AHA rather than increasing more AHA rather than increasing AHP. AHP.

• For over 2 years now we have beenFor over 2 years now we have been

EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITY!EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITY!

Page 7: Embracing Opportunity

The OpportunityThe Opportunity• 2006 Invitation to attend Reframing the Future 2006 Invitation to attend Reframing the Future

workshops with the former GSAHS.workshops with the former GSAHS.– Identify how an AHA could be used in different settings of Identify how an AHA could be used in different settings of

acute, rural and remote practice.acute, rural and remote practice.– Preparation of job description for each of these rolesPreparation of job description for each of these roles– Working with TAFE NSW in developing appropriate subject Working with TAFE NSW in developing appropriate subject

outlines for the Cert IV AHA course.outlines for the Cert IV AHA course.– AHP have been involved in the development of teaching AHP have been involved in the development of teaching

resources and some teaching of the discipline specific Allied resources and some teaching of the discipline specific Allied Health electives.Health electives.

• 2007-2010 Allied health Professionals have been 2007-2010 Allied health Professionals have been supported in completing Cert IV Training and supported in completing Cert IV Training and Assessment. This has helped in supporting AHA in Assessment. This has helped in supporting AHA in their training and understanding the TAFE process. their training and understanding the TAFE process. Does not provide supervision skills that are required Does not provide supervision skills that are required to effectively supervise AHA.to effectively supervise AHA.

Page 8: Embracing Opportunity

The OpportunityThe Opportunity

• We put our hand up and actively We put our hand up and actively encouraged management to choose us as encouraged management to choose us as a pilot site for an AHA trainee position.a pilot site for an AHA trainee position.

• Recruitment of 2FTE Rural Allied Health Recruitment of 2FTE Rural Allied Health Assistant positions. 1-permanent, 1- 2 Assistant positions. 1-permanent, 1- 2 year trainee.year trainee.

• These positions work across disciplines These positions work across disciplines with Speech Pathology, Occupational with Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Physiotherapy. Therapy, Dietetics and Physiotherapy. (when the positions are full!!)(when the positions are full!!)

Page 9: Embracing Opportunity

Embracing those Embracing those opportunitiesopportunities• Developing the roles of the AHADeveloping the roles of the AHA

– Totally new positions has allowed us to work Totally new positions has allowed us to work collaboratively as a group to develop the job collaboratively as a group to develop the job roles.roles.

– At times challenging as we all think our At times challenging as we all think our disciplines are the most important.disciplines are the most important.

– Developed protocols and procedures for the Developed protocols and procedures for the completion of tasks within each discipline.completion of tasks within each discipline.

– Used a timetable as a guide of sharing the Used a timetable as a guide of sharing the assistants time across disciplines, though this is assistants time across disciplines, though this is flexible to meet demands.flexible to meet demands.

– Keeping in mind the clinical governance issues of Keeping in mind the clinical governance issues of each discipline and our employing body.each discipline and our employing body.

Page 10: Embracing Opportunity

Roles of new positionsRoles of new positions• AHA are able to carry out tasks which do AHA are able to carry out tasks which do

not require specific clinical judgements.not require specific clinical judgements.• Clinical rolesClinical roles

– Client Contact with individuals and groups.Client Contact with individuals and groups.– Clinical supportClinical support– IntakeIntake

• AdministrativeAdministrative– Files!!!Files!!!– CorrespondenceCorrespondence

Page 11: Embracing Opportunity

Speech PathologySpeech Pathology– Conduct client Speech and Language Conduct client Speech and Language

programs as set out by the Speech programs as set out by the Speech Pathologist. Both adult and paediatric Pathologist. Both adult and paediatric programs.programs.

– Develop and create Boardmaker Develop and create Boardmaker resources.resources.

– Organise and operate the referral Organise and operate the referral intake system.intake system.

– Prepare programs as set by the Speech Prepare programs as set by the Speech Pathologist.Pathologist.

– Assist with the implementation of group Assist with the implementation of group therapy programs.therapy programs.

Page 12: Embracing Opportunity

DieteticsDietetics• Assist in the running of Assist in the running of

regular clinics by regular clinics by conducting reviews of the conducting reviews of the program as set by the program as set by the Dietitian. Involves taking Dietitian. Involves taking diet history, height & diet history, height & weight.weight.

• Have been involved in Have been involved in RESET program- lifestyle RESET program- lifestyle modification program for modification program for people at risk of Type 2 people at risk of Type 2 diabetes and diabetes and cardiovascular disease.cardiovascular disease. AHA leading exercise AHA leading exercise component of the component of the program.program.

• Letters to referring Letters to referring doctorsdoctors

Page 13: Embracing Opportunity

Occupational TherapyOccupational Therapy

• Organising and running the equipment loan Organising and running the equipment loan pool.pool.

• Delivery and pick-up of assistive devicesDelivery and pick-up of assistive devices• Organising quotes for equipmentOrganising quotes for equipment• Assisting the OT with splintingAssisting the OT with splinting• Conducting handwriting programs as set by Conducting handwriting programs as set by

OT.OT.• Skilled liaison with home modification Skilled liaison with home modification

providers, Enable NSW etc.providers, Enable NSW etc.• Hand therapy programs as set by OTHand therapy programs as set by OT

Page 14: Embracing Opportunity

PhysiotherapyPhysiotherapy

• Coordinate intake and appointments.Coordinate intake and appointments.• Assist with inpatient mobility Assist with inpatient mobility

programs.programs.• Stepping On Falls Prevention Group.Stepping On Falls Prevention Group.• Assist rehabilitation clients with Assist rehabilitation clients with

exercise programs set by exercise programs set by Physiotherapists from large referring Physiotherapists from large referring hospitals. hospitals.

• Administration and filing.Administration and filing.

Page 15: Embracing Opportunity

BenefitsBenefits• All disciplines have seen a decrease in waiting All disciplines have seen a decrease in waiting

times for access to services.times for access to services.• Provide more frequent services to clients who may Provide more frequent services to clients who may

have previously only received infrequent services have previously only received infrequent services or none at all.or none at all.

• Having AHA has enabled us to continue to provide Having AHA has enabled us to continue to provide a high standard of services even with multiple a high standard of services even with multiple vacancies and significant increases in demands for vacancies and significant increases in demands for services. eg. Introduction of TRACS program with services. eg. Introduction of TRACS program with no extra FTE for OT lead to a significant increase in no extra FTE for OT lead to a significant increase in services .services .

• Focus on the quality of the service we provide.Focus on the quality of the service we provide.• One AHA is now studying AH at university.One AHA is now studying AH at university.

Page 16: Embracing Opportunity

ChallengesChallenges• Change in both AHP and AHA staff. Everyone Change in both AHP and AHA staff. Everyone

works in a slightly different way and as we have to works in a slightly different way and as we have to adjust when new people come into those roles. adjust when new people come into those roles. Whether that be new AHP or new AHA.Whether that be new AHP or new AHA.

• Generic AHA positions across disciplines without Generic AHA positions across disciplines without Allied Health Team Leader. Can be difficult to Allied Health Team Leader. Can be difficult to negotiate. We have an AH team consisting of 12 negotiate. We have an AH team consisting of 12 people with no team leader. It is very evident at people with no team leader. It is very evident at times that a team leader role is required. times that a team leader role is required.

• No FTE allocated to supervision of AHA. Done No FTE allocated to supervision of AHA. Done within existing clinical role.within existing clinical role.

• Success is dependent on having a committed Success is dependent on having a committed driving force from all involved. Cannot be driven driving force from all involved. Cannot be driven by one person.by one person.

Page 17: Embracing Opportunity

Why has it worked so Why has it worked so well for us?well for us?

• Being involved from the beginning project.Being involved from the beginning project.• Having our AHA complete their Cert IV while Having our AHA complete their Cert IV while

working with each discipline in record times of 8 working with each discipline in record times of 8 months!months!

• Support from our local management and the AHA Support from our local management and the AHA project coordinator.project coordinator.

• Amazingly talented AHA who brought with them to Amazingly talented AHA who brought with them to the new positions existing skills and knowledge.the new positions existing skills and knowledge.

• Dedicated AHP who have all contributed to the Dedicated AHP who have all contributed to the teaching and role development of these new teaching and role development of these new positions.positions.

Page 18: Embracing Opportunity

What we hope to What we hope to improve…..improve…..

• Fill our vacant AH positions!! Seem to always Fill our vacant AH positions!! Seem to always have a vacancy of some sort.have a vacancy of some sort.

• Involve the AHA in Cardiac and Pulmonary Involve the AHA in Cardiac and Pulmonary rehab programs.rehab programs.

• Continue to develop new roles for our AHA as Continue to develop new roles for our AHA as their skills grow with experience.their skills grow with experience.

• Quality projects looking to measure the Quality projects looking to measure the effectiveness of the AHA positions within our effectiveness of the AHA positions within our organisation.organisation.

• A structure for Allied Health within our A structure for Allied Health within our organisation to facilitate effective supervision organisation to facilitate effective supervision and line management of AHP and AHA.and line management of AHP and AHA.

Page 19: Embracing Opportunity

EMBRACE THE EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITYOPPORTUNITY• Having AHA enhances your service capabilities.Having AHA enhances your service capabilities.

• Introducing and developing these positions has Introducing and developing these positions has not been without its challenges and we need to not been without its challenges and we need to continually examine what we do and why we do it continually examine what we do and why we do it that way.that way.

• Come work in Deniliquin, we have great views of Come work in Deniliquin, we have great views of the river and a fantastic Allied Health team!!!the river and a fantastic Allied Health team!!!