Abstracts

Mr David Harding¹, Ms Glenda McLean^1,2, Ms Janet Hough¹

¹Monash Children’s Hospital, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia

²Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Aims

1. To improve family satisfaction
2. To improve staff job satisfaction
3. To reduce the burden of care by reducing the number of hospital visits required by families with children who are braced for developmental dysplasia of the hips
4. To evaluate the the professional interaction between staff in the co-located clinic and to determine how it may enable them to perform their roles better

Methods

1. Family satisfaction surveys were completed by families in this service and our conventional service
2. Staff satisfaction surveys were completed prior to the service commencing and after six months of the service operating
3. The number of appointments required by famlies during the treatment phase was counted and compared to the number of appointments required by famlies being treated in our conventional service
4. Professional interaction was recorded by physiotherapists and sonographers for the first 100 patients treated in this clinic

Results

1. Families were overwhelming positive and supportive of the new service. Families were happy with the usual service. There was a significant improvement in waiting times, and families appreciated the ability to attend on one occasion for the hip ultrasound and clinical assessment in the new service.
2. Improved staff satisfaction
3. Reduced burden of care with average of 2 less appointments required in the new service
4. Positive professional interaction enable staff to perform their roles more effectively

Significance of findings to Allied Health

There were significant benefits for families in reducing burden of care.

The professional interaction between staff working closely is beneficial to both professions

This model can be replicated to suit health service needs