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The Occupational Therapy department at
St. Vincent’s Health is a dynamic and integrated service, which provides Occupational Therapy Services across the continuum of care.
These services are based at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Fitzroy, St. George’s Hospital Kew and Caritas Christi Hospice Kew.
Mission
To provide a skilled and specialised Occupational Therapy Service which focuses on assisting patients to maximise participation in meaningful activities of daily life. We will provide a timely and patient-focused service that is responsive to the needs of the individual and their carer support network and is in keeping with the vision, philosophy and values of St. Vincent’s Health and the Sisters of Charity. 
Service
Structure
The Occupational Therapy Service at St. Vincent’s Health has two service streams:
·
Acute Care
·
Sub-acute Care
Ralda Bourne is the occupational therapy manager across both service streams. Occupational Therapy is part of the Aged Care and Allied Health Directorate and reports directly to the Allied Health and Community Services Group manager.
The Acute Care Occupational Therapy Service is primarily based at the Fitzroy site and encompasses the Occupational Therapy service to Acute surgical and medical units and the Caritas Christi Palliative Care Units. Hand Therapy is also co-managed through the Acute Care OT Stream.
The Sub-acute Care Occupational Therapy service encompasses the Rehabilitation and Sub-acute Geriatric services at St. Vincent’s Hospital and St. George's Hospital.
Occupational Therapy has dedicated staff across most units and programs within St. Vincent's Health.
Acute Programs – 10 staff (9.7 EFT)
Palliative Care – 2 staff (1.2 EFT)
Rehabilitation – 7 staff (6.00 EFT))
Aged Care – 5 staff ( 4.1 EFT)
There are many exciting opportunities offered within the health service for Occupational Therapists. The benefits of joining our service include:
§ Collaborative relationship between Occupational Therapy service sites and other allied health departments
§ Comprehensive continuing education program within Occupational Therapy
§ Wide range of educational opportunities within the health service
§ Strong emphasis on supervision and mentoring with a formal structure in place for all staff
§ Established Grade 1 rotational program between Fitzroy and Kew sites
§ Strong links with La Trobe, Monash and Deakin Universities and comprehensive student program
§ Extensive resources and comprehensive clinical allied health expertise
§ Other site-based features include: proximity to public transport, parks, local eateries and shopping, parking
The Acute Occupational Therapy team is a dynamic, supportive team servicing all inpatient units. The team works together closely, with an emphasis on providing a quality service with optimal patient outcomes. The focus of our service is assessment and discharge planning however we complete some early intervention where appropriate.
The primary units have a dedicated OT and the smaller units work on an intake system.
The Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Service provides a dynamic, holistic, individualised program to each patient. The individualised Occupational Therapy program aims to return each person to the maximum level of independence in his or her usual daily activities. Such activities may range from having a shower, cooking a meal, gardening, driving, shopping, returning to work or dancing the tango.
The Occupational Therapist coordinates and facilitates the assessment and intervention program to achieve the patient rehabilitation goals. They may also give advice about environmental changes and adaptive equipment to the patient and their support network as well as ongoing education and comprehensive discharge planning.
In-patient
services
In-patient rehabilitation is provided by teams at the Rehabilitation Care Centre, 22 beds based in Fitzroy, and the Heale Rehabilitation Unit at Kew with 30 beds.
Out-patient
services
The Same Day Rehabilitation service at Fitzroy is available for outpatients, for the management of ongoing rehabilitation needs.
St. Vincent’s Health has two GEM units servicing the needs of the older patient. The Caritas Christi Aged Care Unit is a 22 bed sub-acute GEM facility on the Fitzroy Campus, and the Reid Unit is a 30 bed GEM unit based in Kew at St. George’s Hospital. The multi-disciplinary team works closely with the patient and support network to provide a collaborative, client-centred service.
As part of the multi-disciplinary team, the Occupational Therapist role focuses on comprehensive functional assessment and discharge planning, family education, community liaison, equipment advice and prescription, as well as thorough assessments of the patient’s home environment to ensure the safest possible discharge from hospital.
The GEM Occupational Therapist specialises in the complex discharge planning for high-level care patients returning to their own home. In addition, the GEM at HOME service can provide post-discharge patient follow-up and review of equipment/modification needs.
The Occupational Therapy staff play an integral role within the multidisciplinary teams of both these units.
The Palliative Care service promotes the patient’s independence, safety and comfort in activities of daily living. The Occupational Therapist focuses on the interaction between a person’s abilities and their environment whether that is the hospital setting or their home.
As part of the multi-disciplinary team the Occupational Therapist is involved in assessment of a patient’s abilities and their environment. The Occupational Therapist provides ongoing assessment of a patient’s changing condition and identifies peak opportunities for day leave and appropriate discharge planning. As a patient progresses the Occupational Therapy input may focus on comfort, such as positioning and pressure care and relaxation.
Occupational Therapy Department
St. George’s Hospital - Kew
Tel
9268 0516
Fax 9268
0589
St. Vincent’s Hospital - Fitzroy
Tel
9288 3850
Fax 9288
3849
Caritas Christi Hospice - Kew
Tel
9853 2344 Page 1230
Fax 9853
1509
Manager, Occupational Therapy
Tel
9288 3851
0704 569 376
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