Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services
back to Services listing
Looking to the future – new facility plus service developments
Our aim is to develop 'state of the art' services for our elders and those who need rehabilitation, helping them in the right place at the right time with the right people.
To achieve this we are building a major new assessment, treatment and rehabilitation facility, the Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services building, right across the road from the main Waiora Waikato Hospital campus.
This will be a purpose-built space for assessment and rehabilitation teams to work in the most efficient way possible. It will allow for seamless provision of:
- services for older adults: inpatients, assessment-treatment-rehabilitation, and outpatients
- mental health services for older people
- organised stroke services including acute stroke service
- rehabilitation services for <65 year olds.
|
|
Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services will have 113 beds. Significant outdoor areas and courtyard space are both part of the plans. Construction also includes a bridge over Pembroke Street to link the build
ing with Waikato Hospital.
Construction is planned to start in October 2010, for an April 2012 opening.
The building will allow more cooperation among the contributing specialties of psychiatry, orthopaedics, adult medicine/neurology (stroke), and surgery.
The ‘rubbing of shoulders’ in the workplace and the culture of rehabilitation is associated with better outcomes and shorter lengths of stay.
It will be a flagship for such services in New Zealand, and possibly in Australasia.
Photo: Architect's impression of the new Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services building.
Service developments
The new facility will be fantastic, but service development is just as important as bricks
and mortar.
Service developments already happening include:
- Memory Clinic
- Orthogeriatrics Rehabilitation Service
- Early Supportive Discharge Service.
New services are planned, such as
- supported transfer and accelerated rehabilitation teams (started in September 2010) and home-based therapies
- improved collaboration for outpatient services, such as falls and ‘funny turns’ clinics
- and making the most of the existing outpatient facilities such as the Memory Service.
These services will be tailored to suit the Waikato and the Midland region, and use the existing experience of home hospital and hospital-based assessment staff.
There are exciting new opportunities to research and develop, such as community-based support teams (clusters) of staff nestled in primary practice.
Research and training options for all members of staff will be encouraged, including unique training opportunities focussing on such things as adult rehabilitation, organised stroke services.
Overview of current services and facilities
 |
The Older Person and Rehabilitation Services provide interdisciplinary assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for older persons plus rehabilitation services for adults (>16 years and <65 years).
Physicians lead interdisciplinary teams in geriatric medicine and rehabilitation covering inpatient, outpatient and community-based services, including:
- Waikato Hospital - Inpatient Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation including Ward 54 (Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Service), Ward 55 (Comprehensive Stroke Unit and Neuro Rehabilitation), Ward 58 (AT&R) - see details below
- Thames Hospital – 10 beds
- Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre – 11 psycho geriatric beds
- Matariki and Rhoda Read – continuing care facilities with up to 8 beds
- Disability Support Link (DSL) – community-based service coordination for people with disabilities and a need for long term supports.
Physicians lead interdisciplinary teams consisting of medical, nursing, allied health, neuropsychology staff, in both geriatric medicine and rehabilitation.
There are five consultant physician positions attached to this service. Resident medical staff includes four registrars, four house officers and one senior house officer. |
Inpatient AT&R (Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation)
Our teams and current vacancies
Our purpose is to provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for people 65 years and over.
Specialised rehabilitation is also provided for younger people 16 years and over.
We aim to restore, maintain and promote their cognitive and functional ability.
Assessment, treatment and rehabilitation consist of a cluster of areas providing specialist intensive assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
Excellence in patient care and outcome is paramount and this will be achieved by providing effective and evidence based care.
All units have been refurbished and new equipment provided. Each area features comfortable lounge areas specific to patients and their families/whanau. Therapy areas are available with opportunities for group work, education and recreation.
|
WARD 54 - Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Service (ORS)
Ward 54 is currently an 11-bed orthopaedic rehabilitation ward, which increased to 22 beds on 19 July 2010.
We work in collaboration with acute orthopaedics to ensure a seamless approach between post operative or acute care and active and intensive rehabilitation.
Although patients present with an orthopaedic event, they commonly have co-morbidities requiring complex planning, treatment and evaluation. We strive for an interdisciplinary approach. Care planning includes nursing, allied health and medical in the first instance. The extended team members are accessed as required and join the team to consult and advice on individual patient requirements. |
|
|
WARD 55 - Comprehensive Stroke Unit and Neuro Rehabilitation (CSU and Neuro Rehabilitation)
Ward 55 has opened as an 18-bed ward and expanding to 23 beds in the near future.
Ward 55 provides acute care for patients with stroke and those requiring assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
This is a newly refurbished ward with collocation of acute and rehabilitation stroke. Our model of care will focus on the acute needs and assessment, treatment and rehabilitation across the continuum.
Care is provided by a ‘core team’ and each patient is allocated a core clinician to ensure continuity of care is provided to patients, family and whanau members. |
|
|
WARD 58 - Assessment, treatment and rehabilitation (AT&R)
Ward 58 is a 28 bed unit providing generalised assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to people from 16 years of age and over.
Patients are under the care of either a geriatrician or rehabilitation physician.
Principles of best practice in older persons care underpin the care delivery to our older patients. A team nursing approach is the key to this cluster. Two teams work across the ward and nurses are joined by allocated allied health members. Learning opportunities are available in the clinical environment with regular ‘nursing rounds’ lead by clinical nurse specialists and nurse educators.
The Ward 58 team is friendly with multicultural diversity. |
|
Meet the Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services (OP&RS) leadership team
|
Back row (left to right):
- Dr Phil Wood, clinical director
- Kim Holt, manager DSL (Disability Support Services)
- Ruth Kim, HR consultant
- Mariah Hudler, Service quality coordinator
- Eleanor McTavish, nurse manager AT&R
- Belinda MacFie, clinical nurse director
- Paul Fitzpatrick, accountant
Front row (left to right):
- Luke Wilson, business manager
- Katie Holloway, project manager
- Barb Garbutt, group manager
- Sanj Nand, manager, allied health
|
 |
Opportunities for resident medical officers (RMOs)
Resident medical officers gain experience in dealing with a broad range of conditions and are important members of interdisciplinary team.
We provide excellent opportunity for resident medical officers to practise medicine in the Older Persons and Rehabilitation Services’ community-based and home-based settings.
Resident medical officers also have the opportunity of seeing new GP referred patients to outpatient clinics and do this work under the supervision of consultant physicians.
Resident medical officers work in the Older Persons and Rehabilitaton Services for a period of three months and rotate with other sub-specialities of medicine. For those who are interested, longer periods of appointment will be available. This area of medicine is as an excellent training ground for those wishing to pursue GP training.
Teaching programmes include weekly rehabilitation education meetings, grand rounds, medical unit case presentations, trainee lectures and radiology sessions.
Media release
