Consumer perspectives of telehealth in ambulatory care in an Australian health network.

We aimed to explore consumer experiences of ambulatory telehealth services and whether consumer experiences differed according to whether they received their consultation using telephone or video technology. We conducted structured telephone interviews with patient consumers who had received a recent remote consultation by telephone or video call, at local ambulatory allied health or multidisciplinary services within a large public metropolitan public health network. Respondents were asked about their recent experience and future choices in relation to telehealth.

Professional identity of allied health staff associated with a major health network organizational restructuring.

Maintenance of professional identity, particularly during periods of organizational restructuring, is critical within modern complex healthcare systems as professional identity contributes to the psychological well-being of staff and leaders. This study aimed to evaluate change in professional identity of allied health staff associated with a major health network organizational restructuring in Australia. Data were collected from allied health staff in 2017 and 2019, before (n = 226) and after (n = 197) the restructuring.

Saturday allied health services for geriatric evaluation and management: A controlled before-and-after trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of Saturday allied health services on a geriatric evaluation and management ward.

Methods: A controlled before-and-after trial at two wards. Allied health services were added to usual weekday staffing on Saturdays for 6 months on the experimental ward.

Professional Identity of Allied Health Staff.

Professional identity of healthcare staff is a key factor in the functioning of interprofessional teams leading to positive and negative impacts in the modern healthcare environment. This cross-sectional study aimed to understand the professional identity of allied health staff within three allied health workforce structures prior to a large healthcare network restructure. Allied health staff were invited to participate in an online questionnaire of professional identity; descriptive and statistical analyses were undertaken across the workforce structures.

IMPACT: Investigating the impact of Models of Practice for Allied health Care in subacuTe settings. A protocol for a quasi-experimental mixed methods study of cost effectiveness and outcomes for patients exposed to different models of allied health care.

Introduction: This protocol considers three allied health staffing models across public health subacute hospitals. This quasi-experimental mixed-methods study, including qualitative process evaluation, aims to evaluate the impact of additional allied health services in subacute care, in rehabilitation and geriatric evaluation management settings, on patient, health service and societal outcomes.

Methods And Analysis: This health services research will analyse outcomes of patients exposed to different allied health models of care at three health services.

Mealtime interruptions, assistance and nutritional intake in subacute care.

Protected mealtimes is an initiative to support increased nutritional intake for all hospitalised patients, particularly those who are malnourished. The increased focus on maximising independence of patients in the subacute setting may provide a supportive environment for implementing these strategies. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into subacute ward practices at mealtimes under usual conditions (i.