Let us keep the emergency department safe: national disability insurance scheme supports workers' experiences when supporting people with psychosocial disability in the emergency department
Date
2024
Authors
McIntyre, H.
Loughhead, M.
Hayes, L.
Allen, C.
Barton Smith, D.
Bickley, B.
Vega, L.
Smith, J.
Wharton, U.
Procter, N.
Editors
Lalani, M.
Advisors
Journal Title
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Journal article
Citation
Health and Social Care in the Community, 2024; 2024(article no. 4643566):1-12
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Abstract
Internationally, community healthcare is provided by personal health budgets or personalised schemes as part of a consumer-directed care emphasis. Although the introduction of a personalised scheme in Australia has improved the lives of many, people with psychosocial disability (PSD) and their families have experienced many challenges with service integration. Six focus groups with 17 National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support workers were conducted between June and November 2022. Participants were asked semistructured questions about their engagement with emergency department (ED) clinicians when presenting with a person with PSD and NDIS plan. They were also asked how they contribute to service integration to improve communication practices between the two services.
A qualitative, descriptive thematic analysis approach was used. Results indicate there is a need for improved service integration pathways between the ED and NDIS services. The thematic analyses identified five main themes: the ED is harmful and not safe, but nowhere else to go; make the ED safe; further training for ED staff; improving communication across services; and alternatives to the ED. This study reports NDIS support worker’s experience when supporting a person they are caring for in the ED. NDIS support workers have an understanding of the needs of the people they care for;their wisdom can contribute greatly to ED clinical responses in crisis care. Recommendations are offered to assist with service integration between the two systems.
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Data source: Yes, Any request to access the data for this project will be directed to the research team and the Human Research Ethics Committee.
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Copyright 2024 Heather McIntyre et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.