Mapping Allied Health Activity in Major Trauma: Towards Equitable, Efficient and Evidence-Based Rehabilitation in Aotearoa New Zealand
Presenter: Kat Quick, Clinical Lead - Trauma Rehabilitation, HQSC
Authors List
Kat Quick, Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
Arie Bates-Hermans, Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
Michael Keane, Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
Background
Allied health (AH) professionals play a crucial role in delivering early rehabilitation following major trauma, supporting recovery and improving long-term outcomes.
Aims
This project aimed to examine access to early rehabilitation among seriously injured New Zealanders and assess whether AH resources are used efficiently, best-practice care is delivered and optimal outcomes are achieved.
Methods
Incidents from two tertiary trauma services in the New Zealand Trauma Registry (NZTR) between 1/07/2020 – 30/6/2024 were matched to Health NZ AH activity data from 6 professional groups & the National Minium Dataset
Results
Conclusion
AH access was significant in the major trauma population, with higher AH input associated with shorter hospital LOS. Variation in the timeliness and intensity of AH delivery between services highlights opportunities to improve equity, efficiency and evidence-based trauma rehabilitation.
Kat Quick, Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
Arie Bates-Hermans, Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
Michael Keane, Health Quality & Safety Commission, New Zealand
Background
Allied health (AH) professionals play a crucial role in delivering early rehabilitation following major trauma, supporting recovery and improving long-term outcomes.
Aims
This project aimed to examine access to early rehabilitation among seriously injured New Zealanders and assess whether AH resources are used efficiently, best-practice care is delivered and optimal outcomes are achieved.
Methods
Incidents from two tertiary trauma services in the New Zealand Trauma Registry (NZTR) between 1/07/2020 – 30/6/2024 were matched to Health NZ AH activity data from 6 professional groups & the National Minium Dataset
Results
- Of the 2,471 matched major trauma patients, 98% received at least one AH occasion of service at Hospital A and 81% at Hospital B.
- 95% of Hospital A received their first AH intervention by day 2, compared to 69% in Hospital B. For those admitted on a Friday or Saturday there was evidence of reduced AH responsiveness across both sites.
- Median AH intervention counts/time per patient, per day at Hospital A was 2.7/63 minutes, compared with 0.9 occasions and 31 minutes at Hospital B.
- In Hospital A, predictive modelling was used to adjust for factors that can impact length of stay (LOS). After adjustment, those with higher AH intervention, had a shorter than expected LOS (e.g. major trauma patients with greater than 120 minutes of AH intervention per day had a shorter LOS by 4 days than predicted).
Conclusion
AH access was significant in the major trauma population, with higher AH input associated with shorter hospital LOS. Variation in the timeliness and intensity of AH delivery between services highlights opportunities to improve equity, efficiency and evidence-based trauma rehabilitation.
