Abstract:
Objective: To provide an integrated hub where assessment and recommendations on medical, physical, functional, psychosocial needs are made efficiently, and care co-ordination and support services are accessed promptly, with equity in access and triage of all referrals made in a timely manner to address symptoms management, physical conditioning, functional restoration, and improve quality of life.
Background: Movement disorders are profoundly complex neurodegenerative conditions, treatment for which has significantly evolved over the last 2-3 decades. Dedicated organisation of service delivery, overseeing linkage with all care services in our district, was lacking. We identified that, although movement disorders clinics are well designed across Australia, there exist deficiencies in care co-ordination and links between primary health care services, specialist neurology services and rehabilitation care services across our district. The role of integrated care assessment and treatment recommendations with “filter-in, filter-out" to appropriate services were identified.
Methods: We established a novel assessment model of care called the “Integrated Movement Assessment Program”, or I-MAP, comprising a rehabilitation physician, physiotherapist with an integrated occupational therapy role, speech therapist, social worker, administrative assistant and program lead to assess intake and triage all the referrals and oversee the running of the program. Our sub-acute services provide rehabilitation and geriatric care services across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven health district with in-reach, in-patient, out-patient, day rehabilitation services, outpatient services and outreach services.
Results: Our preliminary findings, through case assessments, show that I-MAP dedicates coordinated referral and follow-up treatment in a seamless and timely fashion through targeted identification of patient needs, as well as carer needs and patient/carer/service gaps, with prompt address and management of these.
Conclusion: I-MAP is a novel model of care with an integrated approach involving rehabilitation clinicians to assess, co-ordinate and integrate medical services right from primary health care to community services. We are currently collecting patient reported outcome and experience measures and quality indicators data to review and monitor our I-MAP service for the next 12 months and improve our outcome-based service delivery.
Biography:
Vaidya Bala is a Senior Staff Specialist Consultant in Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine at the Rehabilitation Units in Port Kembla and Wollongong hospitals, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD). His qualifications include MBBS, FAFRM(RACP), Fellow of the European Stroke Council, Certified Independent Medical Examiner, Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education and Leadership, Associate Fellowship with Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. He is currently the Clinical Lead in Neurological Rehabilitation in ISLHD, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong, Education Coordinator for Advanced training in Rehabilitation Medicine, Co-chair Pharmacy Committee and Senior Examiner FAFRM(RACP).
Clinical Lead in Neurological Rehabilitation ISLHD. Senior Staff Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine ISLHD.Honorary Senior Lecturer UOW. Vising Medical officer Shellharbour Private Hospital. Education coordinator for Advanced training in Rehabilitation Medicine-ISLHD. Co-Chair Pharmacy committee-ISLHD. Senior examiner FAFRM(RACP) court of examiners.
Affiliations: Royal Australasian college of Physicians-Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Fellow of European Stroke council. Member-European Society of Obesity Medicine. Members I-international Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ISPRM). Member-RMSANZ-Rehabilitation membership in Australia and New Zealand. Member – Academy of Medical Educators University of Dundee
Certification: Fellow of the Royal Australasian college of Physicians with Faculyty in Rehabilitation Medicine. Bachelor of medicine and Surgery. Certification in use of Trans cranial Magnetic stimulation. Certified Independent Medical examiner. Certified Botulinum toxin injector. Botulinum toxin injection for Migraine Headaches-training under Prof Richard Stark. Ultrasound guided injector-Australian Society of Imaging. Basics of Health Economics-Monash Institute of Health service research-2002. Conducting Literature Reviews-Centre for Clinical Effectiveness, MIHSR-2002. Research Methodology-Centre for Clinical Effectiveness, MIHSR-2002.
Accomplishments: Developed a novel Model of care along with a team called I-MAP as Integrated Movement disorders program for ISLHD 2022-2023. Developed a model of care clinic to manage patients with Mild traumatic brain injury and Whiplash associated disorders at Illawarra Brain injury services.2021. AFRM -RACP Virtual site accreditation committee member for Site accreditation of Rehabilitation facilities in Australia and New Zealand. Written policy on Opioids and Safe driving-Austin department of Pain Medicine. Recipient of AFRM Bruce Ford Scholarship 2005. Recipient of European Obesity Medicine Scholarship 2019. Assisted in redevelopment of curriculum and syllabus for Undergraduate core unitsin aged care, Rehabilitation Medicine with DEAKIN University 2014-2015.
Quality and Accreditations: Site accreditation committee member. Virtual site-accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Accreditation of Rehabilitation Registrar training and reports to Committee. Medical Advisory Committee member at Shellharbour Private Hospital. Review of IBIS Performance indicators. Co-Chair ISLHD Pharmacy committee.
