Evaluating an allied health model of

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Evaluating an allied health model of structural
change .. love and pain and the whole darn
thing. Ms Sonia Posenelli Dr Lynette
Joubert Dr Kim Brock Ms Michelle Kotis
6th National Allied Health Conference, Melbourne,
February 2005
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Overview of key events

• December 2001 - Formation of a newly integrated
  health service, St Vincents Health, including
• St Vincents Hospital
• St Georges Health Service
• Caritas Christi Aged Care
• Palliative Care
  Prague House
• January 2003 - Implementation of new structural
  arrangements for Allied Health, Integrated Sub
  Acute Care
• December 2004 - Evaluation of Allied Health
  restructure

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New structural arrangements

• New role Allied Health Group Manager
• Streams of service for PT, OT, SW
• aged care rehabilitation stream
• acute palliative care stream
• Sole manager across streams for Speech Pathology
• Status quo, with some new service developments
  for Interpreters, Prosthetics, Orthotics
  Podiatry
• Nutrition restructure not completed until
  November 2004 (sole manager across streams)

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Drivers for change

• Need to streamline care across the continuum
• Need for a workable and cost effective allied
  health structure
• The Health Services integration agenda

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From the literature

• Desired outcomes for Allied Health organization
• flexibility and cross fertilization
• developing allied health as a recognizable entity
• develop collective behaviour
• improve direct participation
• 
  Boyce, 1997 2001 Law, 1999

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From the literature (cont)

• 3 Cornerstones of Integration
• communication access
• commitments incentives
• culture, values and teamwork
• Je Jong
  Jackson 2001
• Strategic Leadership
• the development of a collective mind,
  fostering participation
  McDaniel, 1997

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Early achievements 2003 - 2004
Quality the Scorecard Recruitment
Retention two Refresher courses Undergraduate
education interdisciplinary competency based
learning project IT SVHM Allied Health
website Research Activities joint projects,
two Allied Health symposia, grants
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2004 Evaluation

• Methodology
• Individual questionnaires
• Focus groups
• Sample
• N 57
• Included allied health staff who had been at St
  Vincents Health for 12 months or more

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Findings some examples
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Key qualitative results

• Allied Health Identification
• Communication
• Resourcing
• Allied Health in Programs
• Career Opportunities

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Our Report Card

• Identification B
• Participation B
• Flexibility B
• Communication C
• Clinical Care C
• Collective Behaviour A
• Culture Values A

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Acknowledgements
Mr Stephen Tucker, Chief Podiatrist, SVHM Mr
Stephen Vale, Allied Health Group Manager,
SVHM Allied Health Managers and Staff, SVHM Dr
Peter Hunter, Director, Integrated Sub Acute
Care, SVHM Ms Louise Pinazo, Social Work, SVHM