SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE –SUMMARY
Spinal Allied Health Service – state wide team of allied health professionals that work in
collaboration with people with spinal cord injuries and post-polio Syndrome, to enhance their
independence and lifestyle.
 Individual client assessments to evaluate areas of physical, environmental or cognitive need Provision of strategies to enable individuals to meet their lifestyle choices
 Trial and prescription of aids and equipment for mobility, posture, pressure care, continence,
personal care, transfers, and other areas where equipment can improve independence and
lifestyle
 Seating and assessment, including XSensor pressure mapping
 Hand splinting including typing, writing and resting pans
 Assessment and referral for home modifications, staff
standards
trained in application of Australian
 Consultation with clients and their local nursing services on bowel and bladder management and
pressure area management
 Assessment and advocacy for clients personal support needs, including preparation
applications for emergency respite
of
 Assistance with applying for governmental concession and subsidy schemes
 Fee for service workplace assessments, ergonomic assessments,
Scheme (VOSS) applications , Driving Assessments
Vehicle Options Subsidy
 Preparation of funding applications to assist clients afford prescribed aids and equipment.
Who do we provide service to?
o
Adult people aged 16 years or over with a spinal cord injury or post- polio Syndrome who
reside in Queensland, and are eligible to receive services through Home and Community
Care (HACC) and Disability Services (DS), receive services free of charge.
o
Fee for service clients who have a primary physical disability.
Who works for the Service?
South Queensland – Brisbane Office
o
Employs one full time Occupational Therapist, three part time Occupational Therapist’s,
full time Registered Nurse, a part time Physiotherapist, and the State wide Manager.
This team provides assistance to clients residing in Queensland that live south of
Biloela.
o
An Administration Officer who coordinates the equipment hire service and provides
assistance and to the Allied Health professionals.
Version: 11
Issued Date: 06052013
Document No: 100794
Printed copies are uncontrolled.
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SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE –SUMMARY
North Queensland – Townsville Office
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Employs two full time Occupational Therapists, who provide assistance to people
residing in Queensland, north of Biloela.
Cairns Office
o
Full time Occupational Therapist who is also a registered Nurse.
The service is available state-wide. Regional/Outreach trips are conducted as service demands
dictate.
The Spinal Allied Health Service operates from the Brisbane and Townsville and Cairns offices
5 days a week from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Referrals can be received from:o
People with a spinal cord injury
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Their families
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Community based services or agencies
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Health professionals.
The Spinal Allied Health Service has approximately 1000 clients and we strive to provide a quality
service which is both responsive and equitable. All new enquiries will be responded to on a
priority basis as determined by the advisor taking the initial referral. The priority categories are:
o
Urgent priority enquiries are dealt within a 24 hour period. These enquiries are a crisis
or unplanned event. Examples include:- a person being discharged from hospital with
pressure areas and no care in place to assist them at home, a carer being injured and is
no longer able to provide a service, a person assessed as being at risk of suicide, threat
of homelessness, equipment failure which has a high risk of causing harm, pressure
area management/wound care which requires intervention/referral to community nurse,
bowel or bladder complications which may lead to an episode of autonomic dysreflexia.
o
High priority enquiries are dealt within 2 weeks. Examples include:- threat of
institutionalisation due to lack of care provision, breakdown of care support, emergency
application for respite, equipment re-application/replacement of faulty equipment,
assessment of transfer techniques/workplace health and safety assessments,
application for equipment if threat of injury, e.g., pressure reduction cushion, pressure
reduction mattress, hoist application.
o
Medium priority enquiries are dealt within 1 month. Examples include:- new equipment
prescriptions, power wheel chair applications, pressure mapping, home modification
referral/assessment, application for equipment, electric beds, ceiling hoists, applications
for continence aids, court report preparation.
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Issued Date: 06052013
Document No: 100794
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SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE –SUMMARY
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Low priority enquiries are dealt within 2 months. Examples include:– programming
environmental control systems, systems advocacy, annual reviews, and presentations.
What can I expect as a client of the service?
The Spinal Allied Health Service aims to work closely with our clients to achieve quality
outcomes. The vast majority of clients we work with are extremely patient and pleasant and
make our work life a pleasure. At times client report being disappointed with level of service we
are able to provide. In the interest of ensuring SAHS remains equitable and consistent, I have
tried to encapsulate what you might expect if you are a client of SAHS, to avoid such
disappointment.
Equitable access to the service
Once you are a client of SAHS you can continue with the service for as long as you require,
unless you request to be exited, or if you breach the client responsibilities as outlined in client
rights and responsibilities. If you have not had regular ongoing contact with the service for over 2
years you can expect to have a review conducted, via phone, mail out or email. If you request
not to be reviewed, you can contact the service as required.
Attempts will be made to keep you with the same health professional where possible to assist
with continuity of service and to prevent you from having to re-tell your story, unless you request
otherwise.
Timely service
SAHS currently has 853 clients across Queensland. Due to the high demand for our service,
your assistance in ensuring our time is spent wisely would be appreciated. Most simple requests
can be resolved in two visits, though complex requests can take up to five visits. If you require
over five visits you have the choice of being referred to a private therapist.
Where possible and appropriate, we aim to work in conjunction with a local therapist in your
community to ensure a high quality and timely service.
If you already have a health professional involved in the prescription of your equipment it is often
best to stay with that therapist to avoid duplication of services. If you are not happy with the
service you have been receiving, we will endeavour to assist where possible.
Regarding nursing services within SAHS, due to the number of clients, the SAHS service will not
provide primary nursing role. The Nursing role within SAHS is one of a advisory role, providing
support and education to the client. If a nursing service is are not already in place, SAHS will
provide a referral, as well as ongoing advice as required. If a client has access to existing
community nursing options, SAHS will not get involved, unless the client feels their needs are not
being adequately met?
Version: 11
Issued Date: 06052013
Document No: 100794
Printed copies are uncontrolled.
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SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE –SUMMARY
Professional and thorough prescription of equipment
Equipment prescription and re-prescription is a large component of what SAHS does for clients.
We will organise a trial of equipment before prescription, however extended trials can be difficult
to accommodate. We do not have capacity to trial all products on the market, and we will not
trial equipment that is unlikely to be prescribed. Trial of three different products recommended by
your therapist is usually enough to make an informed decision.
We are legally required to conduct a trial of equipment and a face to face assessment of a client
if we are prescribing equipment that has not been prescribed previously. SAHS team members
will not complete applications retrospectively if not involved in the prescription process.
SAHS prides itself on trying to get the best results for clients, which often means having to
source funding from various different sources that may require different applications with
different eligibility criteria. This can be a time consuming process, and we cannot guarantee
outcomes on any funding requests made. The SAHS team will update you along the way with
outcomes of applications.
How can I assist in the process?
Please let us know when you become aware that your equipment needs replacing and do not
wait until your equipment is about to break or has broken before making a request.
If you change your mind about the equipment or want alterations please let your therapist know
promptly, before the application is submitted. Once the prescription process has been finalised
and the application lodged, equipment is purchased, it cannot be returned.
When you have received equipment, please notify your SAHS therapist, so they can conduct a
follow up visit to make sure it is working for you. Do not use the equipment if it appears to be
unsafe.
We aim to deliver a service that is equitable as well as of high quality, you are an important part
of the process, constructive feedback is always welcome.
To contact the Spinal Allied Health Service with any enquiries, please phone:
Brisbane Office – 3391 2044 or 1800 810 513 (Toll free)
Townsville Office – 4755 1755 or 1800 024 422 (Toll free)
Cairns Office - 0429 888 825
Version: 11
Issued Date: 06052013
Document No: 100794
Printed copies are uncontrolled.
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