Increased allied health services to general and acute medical units decreases length of stay: comparison with a historical cohort

Australian Health Review : a Publication of the Australian Hospital Association
Ellen MillsKathy Stiller

Abstract

Objective The present study evaluated the effect of an initiative to fund increased allied health (AH) services, enabling increased days and both volume and scope of AH services, for general medical in-patients in the Central Adelaide Local Health Network for a 6-month trial period. Methods A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was undertaken involving general medical in-patients at two acute tertiary-referral public hospitals with a prospective (December 2015-May 2016) and historical comparison (December 2014-May 2015) cohort. Outcome measures compared between the two cohorts included hospital length of stay (LOS), occupied bed-days, adverse events and AH service data. Results After implementation of increased AH services, there were significant decreases in the median (interquartile range) of both hospital LOS (from 7.2 (7.0-8.0) to 6.5 (6.1-6.7) days; P=0.006) and occupied bed-days (from 5295.0 (5200.0-5622.3) to 4662.5 (4335.8-4744.3) bed-days per month; P=0.004). There was no significant change in weekend discharges or adverse events. AH services increased, with the median number of referrals seen by AH professionals per month, occasions of AH service and AH intervention time per month increasing by 17%, 45% and 43% res...Continue Reading

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Dec 15, 2006·Physiotherapy Theory and Practice·Natasha K Brusco, Jennifer Paratz
Sep 3, 2011·Physiotherapy Canada. Physiothérapie Canada·Lauren CampbellDina Brooks
Feb 2, 2012·Human Resources for Health·Linda CartmillLorraine Sheppard
Oct 6, 2012·Physiotherapy Research International : the Journal for Researchers and Clinicians in Physical Therapy·Kathryn D ShawNatasha K Brusco

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