Introduction of the Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service

Main Article Content

Merehau Cindy Mervin
Ruth Barker
Cindy Stealey
Tracy Comans

Abstract

Objective: To analyse trends in length of hospital stay before and after the implementation of the Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service (CRNQ) in Townsville, Australia.


Design: Retrospective analysis of collected administrative data provided by the data custodian Townsville Hospital Health Service District.


Setting: All patients discharged from the Townsville hospital between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2013 for whom the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups were stroke (B70), degenerative nervous system disorders (B67) or rehabilitation (Z60).


Main outcome measures: Average length of stay and total number of inpatient episodes coded stroke, degenerative nervous system disorders or rehabilitation.


Results: Length of stay for the selected diagnosis related groups was consistently ranging from 23 days to 25 days for the period 2008-2012. In the first year of full operational capacity of CRNQ (2012-13), there was an average reduction of six days in length of stay. The major reductions in length of stay occurred in patients admitted for rehabilitation care.


Conclusions: This study adds additional evidence that earlier discharge can be facilitated for patients with neurological conditions living outside metropolitan areas when appropriate rehabilitation services are available in the community.


Abbreviations: AR-DRG – Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups; CRNQ – Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service.

Article Details

How to Cite
Mervin, M. C., Barker, R., Stealey, C., & Comans, T. (2017). Introduction of the Community Rehabilitation Northern Queensland Service. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 12(1), 47-61. https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v12i1.97
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Merehau Cindy Mervin, Griffith University

Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Nathan, Queensland, Australia

Ruth Barker, James Cook University

James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Northern Australia Primary Health Ltd, Belgian Gardens, Queensland, Australia

Cindy Stealey, Northern Australia Primary Health Ltd

Northern Australia Primary Health Ltd, Belgian Gardens, Queensland, Australia

James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Tracy Comans, Griffith University

Griffith University, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Nathan, Queensland Australia

Metro North Hospital and Health Service District, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia