Communicating the Services of the New England Brain Injury Service: Helping GPs to Deliver Better Care
Funding through the NSW MAA was gained by the New England Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service (NEBIRS) to employ a Project Officer for 12 months (July 03 – June 04) to look at enhancing the communication and liaison between NEBIRS and GPs across New England Area Health Service (NEAHS), and to determine the best way to educate GPs further on Traumatic Brain Injury and NEBIRS.
The project acknowledges the important role GPs play in the long-term management of people with severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the community, and in the rehabilitation planning and discharge process.
The objectives of the project were to explore the feasibility of different technologies to enhance communication, provide GP education regarding TBI and NEBIRS, and develop protocols for NEBIRS to promote effective communication, early GP involvement in discharge planning, and effective ongoing management of people with severe TBI in the community.
The initial phase of the project involved wide consultation with GPs and the NEBIRS to identify their needs. Results indicated NEAHS GPs had limited awareness of the sequela of TBI or the existence of NEBIRS, although the service has been around since 1990.
File audits of NEBIRS clients indicated very limited communication with GPs, and a poorly defined clinical pathway in the care of TBI clients. It is hoped the development of clear guidelines will sustain closer working relationships with GPs.
GPs need to have regular reminders about new services especially those services not accessed often, as they are unable to keep up with the changes in services. It is suggested that the best way to do this is to “drip feed” information through the Divisions of General Practice.We need to foster better communication, be relevant and timely, and give them greater opportunity to interact successfully with us.
The poster will highlight the project findings and how allied health professionals and services can form and sustain closer working relationships with GPs.