Emerging from behind cubicle doors – building better health in the bush
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Presenters: Mrs Angie Gorry1, Mrs Michelle Rathjen1
1South West Hospital And Health Service, Roma, Australia
Date of presentations 27th October 2016
Abstract
Aim
To improve the quality of life for children in rural South West Queensland through the development of a nurse led multi-disciplinary continence clinic. Child health nurses are skilled professionals with a unique holistic view of a child and their family. Through this lens, a child health nurse can facilitate the path of the child through the necessary practitioners to address bladder and bowel dysfunction for positive outcomes whilst promoting dignity and Quality of Life factors for the child and family.
Method
To develop a paediatric continence clinic Clinical Service Redesign methodology is being used to guide its development. This comprises of data analysis, stakeholder analysis, ‘voice of the patient’ activities, issue prioritisation, literature reviews, and process mapping to develop a Paediatric Multidisciplinary Continence Clinic.
Results
This will change the journey of the family and child from a lengthy drawn-out ad-hoc service to a streamlined, evidence-based pathway to better Quality of life:
Current picture –
Child with continence issues referred separately to appropriate Community and Allied health professionals including Paediatrician, Child Health Clinical Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Continence CNC, and/or Psychologist for further intervention, education, and/or support. Each individual referral would be triaged, an appointment made, and the child would see each practitioner separately.
Future Picture –
GP would refer to Paediatric Continence Services. This one referral would be the pathway to a multidisciplinary assessment and treatment plan. Urology and Gastroenterology specialists would be available for consultation utilising existing Telehealth services. Referral pathways would be available as required for tertiary centre services.
Conclusions
For a child with continence issues, their difficulties are behind closed doors, not spoken about, sleepovers with friends avoided, and there is always a niggling anxiety that you will have ‘an accident’. Through bringing out this issue from behind cubicle doors, we can provide coordinated treatment, education and support for better health in the bush.