An innovative model of care which brings specialist rehabilitation services to acute wards has reached a major milestone, with PA Hospital’s In-reach Rehabilitation team supporting its 1,000th patient.
The service was launched in July 2024 to help patients begin their recovery earlier and reduce the amount of time they spend in hospital.
Physiotherapist Treena Seeto said the team works alongside ward-based therapists to increase the intensity of rehabilitation and improve patient outcomes.
“Patients continue to receive treatment from their ward therapists, but we come in on top of that to provide extra therapy sessions,” she said.
“By increasing the intensity of rehabilitation, we can help patients recover faster, reduce the risk of complications and deconditioning, and start their recovery journey earlier.”
“We collect a lot of data and are seeing positive improvements in patient outcomes, but the most rewarding part is the feedback from patients themselves. Ultimately, if patients are recovering better and we’re helping prevent complications, that’s a win.”
One of those patients is Crystal Siteine, who became the 1,000th patient supported by the In-reach Rehabilitation team at PA Hospital.
“Since meeting the In-reach team, they’ve been very hands-on,” she said.
“A big thing for me is understanding what’s happening and why, and they’ve been really good at explaining what they’re doing and how it’s going to help. The experience has been great.”
Crystal has already seen significant improvements in her mobility and confidence.
“Things that I couldn’t do before, I can do now, which is really encouraging and motivating for me to keep going,” she said.
Beyond the physical gains, Crystal said the team’s advocacy and support helped her feel more confident navigating her healthcare journey.
“Sometimes, as a patient, you’re not sure which way to go with things, and the team helped me understand. It feels like having someone there who’s got my back.”
The positive feedback is encouraging for the dedicated multidisciplinary team, comprising medical, nursing, administration, allied health assistants and allied health professionals from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, social work, and psychology.
Team Leader Kate Delany said the In-reach service has been incredibly well supported by the hospital with referrals spanning both medical and surgical specialties.
“We support patients across their rehabilitation journey whether recovering from a brain injury, stroke, or a prolonged hospital stay,” she said.
“Importantly, more than one in five of our patients are able to be discharged directly home.”
“Reaching 1,000 patients feels a bit surreal,” said Physio Treena.
“This was once just an idea, and now we’ve supported so many people through their recovery. The whole team is really proud to be making such a positive difference.”
Congratulations to the In-reach Rehabilitation team on this incredible milestone!