146 INTRODUCTION OF A STANDARDISED SCREENING TOOL FOR REFERRAL TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND PHYSIOTHERAPY ON SPECIALIST GERIATRIC WARDS

Abstract

Abstract Background The Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Physiotherapists (PTs) on the Specialist Geriatric Wards provide assessment, rehabilitation, and discharge planning for frail older adults. All patients are screened on admission by OT or PT to determine the need for therapy input. This rapid response eliminates delay in accessing therapy input and allows for proactive commencement of intervention and discharge planning without the delay of awaiting a referral. It was identified that the existing process for screening patients lacked structure and clarity, leading to inefficient use of time and resources with the risk of duplication. The aim of this local Quality Improvement (QI) initiative was to standardise the process for screening using a triage sticker containing set criteria for referral to OT/PT. Methods Following team consultation and review of frailty screening tools, a triage sticker was adapted and modified from the ‘Think Frailty’ tool1. QI methodology and PDSA cycles identified 6 blanket triggers for OT/PT assessment on the ward. F—Functional impairment. R—Resident in a care home. A—Acute/chronic confusion. I—Immobility/Instability. L—Living at home with support. S—Specialist seating or skin integrity issues. Retrospective review of traditional triage vs the new sicker was performed to evaluate accuracy. Results Retrospective analysis found 83% accuracy between the new triage sticker and the traditional triage method. Of the patients who did not meet the criteria for referral, to date none have been subsequently referred during their admission, demonstrating its comprehensiveness as a tool. Conclusion Pro-active and early intervention from OT and PT is beneficial for ensuring optimum patient care and efficient discharge planning for frail older adults admitted to hospital. This local QI project demonstrated that standardising the screening process for referral to OT/PT could improve clarity and enable more efficient use of time and resources.