Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung TSS(1), Chan MW(1), Yu KH(1), Leung YH(1), Yam CLY(1), Pong SK(1), Wong MYA(1)
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, RTSKH
Introduction :
Over the past years, the administration time of staff in training sessions varies depending on the availability of manpower as well as the number of patients attending the training session. Facing manpower shortage, the idle time of patient training is unfavorably increased. The average administration time was increased as therapists need to educate staff in assisting treatment provision and prescribe treatment simultaneously. In order to enhance the overall effectiveness of treatment delivery, the Occupational Therapy (OT) Department of Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospital has established a workflow while incorporating the Rehabilitation Activities Management System (RAMS) this year.
Objectives :
1. To minimize patient’s idle time and administration time of therapists during OT treatment session
2. To facilitate standardization of treatment delivery between OT & supporting staff
Methodology :
A workflow is established to facilitate new therapists and supporting staff in familiarizing the training procedures. Revised remedial training card and team-based training protocol were set up in RAMS. Reorganizing treatment equipment and utilizing the RAMS dashboard to provide real-time feedback on equipment availability. Workflow education is also done to OT staff prior to implementation.
Outcome measurement includes: Idle time of patient, total time for switching remedial activities, total administration time of OT staff and a 10-point user satisfactory survey for therapist and supporting staff.
Result & Outcome :
All newly recruited occupational therapists agree that the workflow provides clear instruction, which allows them to learn and provide treatment safely and effectively. Average administration time has reduced from 7.3 minutes to 4.5 minutes. The average idle time of patient during treatment session has reduced by 20%. The total time for remedial activity switching was reduced from 2.6 minutes to 1.8 minutes. A 10-point-scale satisfaction survey for staff was conducted. The survey focused on (i) effectiveness of workflow implementation (ii) improvement in communication among therapists and supporting staff. The mean score of (i) and (ii) was 8/10 and 7.9/10 respectively. The overall satisfactory level of workflow implementation was 7.9/10.
The establishment of this self-explanatory, standardized training package promotes therapists’ efficacy in treatment delivery and enhances the efficiency of treatment provision. OT staff could refer to the workflow when they were unsure of the patients’ suitability in attending treatment session, which enhances patient’s safety.
