A snapshot of rehabilitation referrals in rural New South Wales
Julie PryorA Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, PO Box 6, Ryde, NSW 1680, Australia. Email: julie.pryor@royalrehab.com.au
B School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
Australian Health Review 34(2) 204-209 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH08713
Submitted: 26 October 2008 Accepted: 15 June 2009 Published: 25 May 2010
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to describe patterns of referral to inpatient rehabilitation in rural NSW. Archival records of referrals to one rural speciality medical rehabilitation service during 2004 and 2005 were analysed using descriptive statistics displayed using tables and graphs. Seventy-six referrers referred 922 patients for inpatient rehabilitation. Almost two-thirds (63.6%) came from the local acute hospital. Most referrals (80.4%) were considered appropriate for inpatient rehabilitation. Almost three-quarters (72.5%) of the patients referred were admitted.
The demand for inpatient rehabilitation is high in rural NSW, suggesting that many healthcare providers view rehabilitation as a valuable service. Furthermore, this study suggests the important contribution that inpatient rehabilitation makes to the utilisation of acute care beds, but does not confirm it.
What is known about the topic? Internationally and nationally there is a growing appreciation of the contribution that clinical rehabilitation services make to quality of life for people with a range of conditions, but little is known about referrals patterns to inpatient rehabilitation in rural NSW.
What does the paper add? This paper provides the first focussed study of referrals to inpatient rehabilitation in rural NSW. It reports the number of patients referred, the number of referrers, the appropriateness of those referrals and their outcomes.
What are the implications for practitioners? Rehabilitation services are important, widely and largely appropriately used; and that further work is needed to assess whether additional services are required to meet this demand.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Greater Western Area Health Service, Catholic Health Care Service and Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney. The support of the staff at Coonabarabran Health Service, Wellington Health Service and Lourdes is also acknowledged, without their support the larger project would not have been possible. The contribution of John Bidewell, who conducted the statistical analysis was invaluable.
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