Objective This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a workplace-delivered outpatient multidisciplinary service (ReCOV) for staff experiencing post COVID-19 condition ('Long COVID'). Methods A mixed-methods study of staff at a large, tertiary hospital with Long COVID who attended the service was conducted. Participants completed questionnaires to determine baseline symptoms and were offered allied health appointments for up to 12weeks each based on clinical indication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A multidisciplinary approach is required for the management of long COVID. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility (demand, implementation, practicality, acceptability, and limited efficacy) of an allied-health-led multidisciplinary symptom management service (ReCOV) for long COVID.
Methods: A single-group observational cohort feasibility study was conducted to determine demand (referrals), acceptability (survey), implementation (waitlist times, health professions seen), practicality (adverse events), and limited efficacy (admission and discharge scores from the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Patient Health Questionnaire, and EuroQol 5D-5L).
Objective This case study describes the development and outcomes of a new integrated and multidisciplinary care pathway. Spearheaded by allied health, the 'COVID community navigator team', applied established principles of reverse triage to create additional surge capacity. Methods A retrospective cohort study examined workflow patterns using electronic medical records of patients who received navigator input at the Royal Melbourne Hospital between 20 September 2021 and 20 December 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Delivering high-intensity occupational therapy can improve functional outcomes for patients and reduce length of stay. However, there is little published evidence of this in the aged rehabilitation setting. This study aims to explore the association between intensity of occupational therapy interventions and functional outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective Staff turnover remains a significant financial burden across the healthcare sector. Traditional approaches to recruitment continue to prioritise competency-based outcomes over the cultural fit of applicants. This brief case study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a new recruitment intervention on allied health staff attrition rates at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Disinvestment from inefficient or ineffective health services is a growing priority for health care systems. Provision of allied health services over the weekend is now commonplace despite a relative paucity of evidence supporting their provision. The relatively high cost of providing this service combined with the paucity of evidence supporting its provision makes this a potential candidate for disinvestment so that resources consumed can be used in other areas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF