Interprofessional collaboration helps ensure patients’ homes are equipment ready

It is an exciting time when a patient has reached the stage in their recovery journey where they can return home. Before they can be discharged though, there are many things that need to be checked to ensure their home is suitable for their return.

This is where the wonderful STARS Occupational Therapy (OT) team come in, visiting inpatients’ homes to see they have the equipment they require for discharge.

One of the common checks the OT team carry out is to see if a transfer device such as a Sara Steady or lifting hoist has the appropriate clearance to fit in a room. Previously the OT team relied on cardboard cut-outs of outlines of the transfer devices for the checks but they weren’t ideal.

Cody from the OT team approached the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre (REC) to see if they might have a solution.

“The cardboard cut-outs we were using weren’t very user-friendly as we had to move them around on the ground with our hands to check if they could get around beds, or walls,” Cody said.

“We wanted something that was more robust and ergonomic so we reached out to the REC team to see what they could do.”

Alan Bateman from the REC team designed and fabricated a lightweight, sustainable, transportable system from scrap materials.

“The new system works for OTs of all heights and eliminates the need for them to physically get down on the ground. It folds away easily when not in use and comes with its own carry bag,” Alan said.

For Cody the new system will be of great benefit to the OT team.

“The system that Alan has created is not only ergonomically friendly for our team, but the visual representation will also improve the accuracy of our measurements and subsequent recommendations,” Cody said.

Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre Oliver Mason is delighted with the outcome.

“Alan’s system is a great example of the interprofessional collaborations that occur at STARS, with different professions coming together to develop more effective ways of working,” Oliver said.

“The REC team are always happy to support other teams in their efforts to improve patient outcomes.”