Can a combined subacute and community rehabilitation neurological circuit group improve patient transition and therapist collaboration between both services?.

Abstract

Stroke survivors participate in rehabilitation at the Kingston Centre, Monash Health, Victoria, Australia in both subacute (bed based) and community rehabilitation services. Although the subacute and community rehabilitation Physiotherapy staff are based at the same site, they are employed by different departments and have limited communication between the teams regarding clinical transfer of stroke patients and clinical support. An opportunity exists to improve communication between these clinicians, which should in turn improve transition for patients. By implementing an evidence-based circuit exercise group for patients with neurological conditions (primarily stroke) which has attendance from both subacute and community rehabilitation patients at The Kingston Centre, and by staffing this group with Physiotherapists from both departments, our principle aims were to: 1) Improve collaboration and relationships between physiotherapists working in subacute and community rehabilitation through shared learning opportunities and clinical peer support. 2) Improve patient experience with transition from subacute to community rehabilitation This research project is a parallel research design comparing patients discharged from Kingston subacute rehabilitation who continue to attend a neurological circuit exercise group with those patients discharged into other Monash Health community rehabilitation programs without access to a similar exercise group. Perceived Physiotherapy staff relationship is measured through staff survey at baseline, 3 months and 6 months post intervention implementation. Clients' expectation versus actual experience of discharge and transition is measured through survey. Wait time to contact with a Physiotherapist following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and occasions of service is also compared. Ethics approval and baseline data is completed, primary outcomes due June 2017.