Home Quick – Occupational Therapy Home Visits Using mHealth, to Facilitate Discharge from Acute Admission Back to the Community

Authors

  • Jacqueline Nix Occupational Therapy Department, Redcliffe Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service District, Anzac Ave, Redcliffe, 4020, Australia
  • Tracy Comans Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Butterfield St, Herston, 4006, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Australia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2840-3496

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2017.6218

Abstract

This article reports upon an initiative to improve the timeliness of occupational therapy home visits for discharge planning by implementing technology solutions while maintaining patient safety. A community hospital in Queensland, Australia, hosted a process evaluation that examined which aspects of home visiting could be replaced or augmented by alternative technologies. Strategies were trialled, implemented and assessed using the number of home visits completed and the time from referral to completion as outcomes. A technology-enhanced solution called “Home Quick” was developed using technology to facilitate pre-discharge home visits. The implementation of Home Quick resulted in an increase in the number of home visits conducted prior to discharge (50% increase from 145 to 223) and significantly increased the number of patients seen earlier following referral (X2=69.3; p<0.001). The substitution of direct home visits with technology-enabled remote visits is suitable for a variety of home visiting scenarios traditionally performed by occupational therapists.

 

  

Author Biographies

Jacqueline Nix, Occupational Therapy Department, Redcliffe Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service District, Anzac Ave, Redcliffe, 4020, Australia

Director, Occupational Therapy Department, Redcliffe Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service District, Anzac Ave, Redcliffe, 4020, Australia

Tracy Comans, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Butterfield St, Herston, 4006, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Australia

Principal Research Fellow in Health Economics
Metro North Hospital  and Health Service District and
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University

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Published

2017-06-29

How to Cite

Nix, J., & Comans, T. (2017). Home Quick – Occupational Therapy Home Visits Using mHealth, to Facilitate Discharge from Acute Admission Back to the Community. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 9(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2017.6218

Issue

Vol 9, No 1: Spring 2017

Section

Featured Telerehabilitation Program

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