Early Inreach Rehabilitation

Summary

The Gold Coast University Hospital - Rehabilitation Response Team (RRT) is an innovative service providing specialist rehabilitation services on acute wards. RRT is a specialist service implementing a shared care model hospital-wide of allied health and medical input. RRT consists of 10 packages at any one time, with the aim of delivering rehabilitative services in the acute setting for a minimum of 3 days up to 14 days.

Key dates

Mar 2016 - Aug 2017

Aim

The development and implementation of a new clinical rehabilitation intervention for medical and surgical inpatients.

Benefits

Provides multidisciplinary rehabilitation intervention on acute wards prior to the conclusion of the acute episode of care.
Prevent deconditioning, improve functional outcomes, facilitate patient flow and promote the philosophy of rehabilitation throughout the hospital.

Background

RRT commenced as a consequence of the restructure of the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (CGHHS) Rehabilitation Services.

Solutions implemented

The service implements a patient-centred case management model, where patient’s goals are identified and therapy is targeted towards these goals. Demographic data, average length of stay, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) efficiency scores and patient centred goal setting tool Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) will be presented, as well as challenges encountered throughout this process.

Evaluation and results

Since an initial pilot in March 2016, all funded packages have increased in occupancy to being consistently utilised. The volume of referrals to RRT continues to be high with a varied cohort of patients. These include neurological and stroke, neurosurgical and trauma patients, reconditioning, including post-surgical, long hospital admission and oncology patients. Average length of stay varies depending on patient cohort. RRT continues to be effective in executing the model of care where patients are discharged directly home from acute services, thus avoiding inpatient rehabilitation (average 24.8% avoided inpatient rehabilitation admission) and potentially reducing overall length of stay. Since December 2016 Rehabilitation activity has increased through the RRT to a total of 228 Rehabilitation bed days attributable to episode of care changes. On average patients have demonstrated positive improvement in physical ability. The service has been extremely well received by acute care colleagues and patient feedback.

Key contact

Dr Teresa Boyle

Senior Medical Officer, Rehabilitation Response Team

Gold Coast University Hospital

Email: Teresa.Boyle@health.qld.gov.au

Last updated: April 2025

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