Problem: Feedback from patients and families about their inpatient rehabilitation stay has highlighted gaps in communication and confusion regarding progress and plans. This audit aimed to improve communication during the rehabilitation journey.
Design/methods: The Australian Modified Client-Centred Rehabilitation Questionnaire (AM-CCRQ) is a validated survey assessing patient perceptions about their rehabilitation experience. Patients anonymously completed the AM-CCRQ one day before, or on day of discharge. From October 2022 to January 2023, AM-CCRQ responses were collected on a 30-bed geriatric rehabilitation ward. A re-audit was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 where AM-CCRQ responses were collected from two geriatric rehabilitation wards with a total of 56 beds, including the ward which participated in the first audit.
Practice Change: The ‘Key Worker’ model was implemented in the re-audit period. The Key Worker is a health professional who is part of the multidisciplinary team. They are the “go-to” person and met with patients and families on admission and at least weekly to discuss and document updates and goals for discharge.
Re-Audit: The first audit had 37 responses. The AM-CCRQ areas of ‘Family Involvement’ and ‘Continuity and Coordination’ (which includes perception of communication) had the lowest number of positive responses. There were 41 responses in the re-audit which showed 10.6% and 13.5% more positive responses for ‘Family involvement’ and ‘Continuity and coordination’ respectively.
Conclusions: Communication and family involvement are challenges on geriatric rehabilitation wards. The Key Worker is a patient-centred model which resulted in improved written and verbal communication with patients and families.