The MRID Toolkits
The Metro-Regional Intellectual Disability Network is building a family of toolkits which make available the lessons learned and expertise gathered through innovative health care initiatives trialled in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District of New South Wales. These toolkits make successful, alternative models of care available to others, for utilisation and implementation wherever they may be.
Coming Soon – The MRID Hospitalisation ToolKit
The MRID Hospitalisation ToolKit
Universal access to health care is a fundamental right for all members of our society. However, people with an intellectual disability face many barriers to accessing health care, compared to the general population. These barriers may include issues such as reduced mobility, communication difficulties and lack of awareness amongst professionals in mainstream services about the unique challenges faced by people with intellectual disability.
The MRID Hospitalisation ToolKit is a resource for families, carers and professionals with the aim of improving the provision of healthcare to individuals with an intellectual disability. This body of work has grown out of a pilot program implemented by the Kogarah Developmental Assessment Service and NSW Health, in the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health Service.
What are the stages of care provision outlined in the Hospitalisation ToolKit?
The Hospitalisation ToolKit will discuss the various stages involved in hospital presentations, with a focus on Co-Design principles to optimise the patient journey from community to hospital care and back again.
There are several main transition points in the process of hospitalisation, which can be addressed from a patient centred perspective to improve the experience of people with intellectual disability and complex health needs. Case studies from real patients will be presented alongside strategies for overcoming challenges, building on the lived experiences of carers, families and individuals with intellectual disability. Areas of particular focus will include managing challenging behaviours and the role of higher level consultancy services. The key focus groups will be on young people and adults.
Hospitalisations can be either planned or unplanned. In acute emergency situations or following unexpected injuries, unplanned presentations to the Emergency Department are sometimes unavoidable. However, wherever possible, we aim to provide community based health care, and escalate to planned elective admissions when required, to prevent crisis-driven unplanned admissions.
Stages of Hospitalisation:
Optimal community health care as a means of prevention of planned and unplanned hospital admissions.
The Hospitalisation ToolKit is for anyone wanting to improve the health, hospitalisation experience and wellbeing of an individual with an intellectual disability.
We wish you every success!