Quality Systems at Life Rehabilitation Meet International Standards Only ISO 9001:2008 Certificated Rehabilitation Network in South Africa
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Quality systems at Life Rehabilitation meet international standards Only ISO 9001:2008 certificated rehabilitation network in South Africa Michelle de Kock (left), the rehabilitation standards manager who spearheaded the quest for ISO 9001 certification for Life Rehabilitation, with Dr Nilesh Patel, general business manager healthcare services, who has executive responsibility for Life Rehabilitation amongst other businesses, and Dr Dena van den Bergh, general manager national healthcare functions at Life Healthcare, whose executive responsibilities include, amongst others, quality in the Life Healthcare group. Although Life Rehabilitation units were separate ISO 9001:2008 certification, performance with regards to the focus included in the Life Healthcare Group ISO making it the only certificated networked areas of the business, namely slips multi-site certification, achieved in 2007, a group of rehabilitation units in the country. and falls and medication errors. decision was taken in 2009 to embark on The following components of the n Enhancements to the established a separate certification for the business, quality system were developed and patient satisfaction tools to ensure with an emphasis on specific rehabilitation implemented: effective measurement of satisfaction processes and customer needs. n Rehabilitation specific work procedures with the rehabilitation process. The formal certification process to address areas that are unique and n A measurement and monitoring conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers different to the acute care business. system for the above mentioned (PwC) commenced in July 2009 with an These work procedures are reviewed items. initial readiness audit. The PwC review and updated on an ongoing basis This certification underpins Life was finalised in October following three to ensure they continue to meet the Rehabilitation’s commitment and ability final audits at individual unit and head needs of the business. to provide its patients with world class office levels. n A rehabilitation specific scorecard, rehabilitation services. Life Rehabilitation has now achieved detailing rehabilitation specific Page 3 Page 5 Page 11 Unique pulmonary New insights into TBI There is life after ISSUE 12 rehabilitation in SA rehabilitation amputation autumn 2010 2 growing the service Specialised paediatric rehabilitation New now offered The inordinately high incidence of road traffic accidents in South orthopaedic Africa contributes significantly to neurological injuries in children. This, together with near-drownings, violence, accidental injuries, rehabilitation certain medical conditions and, to a lesser degree, birth trauma, result in many children being affected with varying types and service degrees of neurological challenges. Life Rehabilitation’s new ortho- impairment and disability. paedic rehabilitation programme, In the enriched environment created initially offered at Life Riverfield through paediatric rehabilitation, the child Lodge and now also at the five is stimulated to successively achieve age other units, is structured to ad- appropriate skills. Dedicated and intensive inpatient rehabilitation of children also serves dress orthopaedic dysfunction to provide a supportive and informative disability. It facilitates optimal environment for parents and other family independence for patients with members, who usually struggle to come complex orthopaedic rehabilita- to terms with the trauma that paediatric tion needs, includ ing post hip or disability brings about. knee replacement surgery and multiple orthopaedic trauma, all “Life Rehabilitation’s specialised paediatric Benefits of paediatric rehabilitation programme has been developed to help The benefits of Life Rehabilitation’s of which could potentially result restore these children to their fullest physical, programme include the following: in significant disability. The pro- mental, emotional, social, scholastic (and n Prevention of prolonged stay in an gramme is focused on providing eventually vocational) potential possible, inappropriate, acute hospital environment. time limited, outcomes based thereby improving their quality of life. n On-site rehabilitation service offered by a Success in this restoration also results in inter vention early in the recovery comprehensively trained, interdisciplinary reduced healthcare costs and burden of process; thereby ensuring that team of medical, nursing and therapy care in the long term,” says Nina Strydom, all medical, physical and psy- professionals who address all issues rehabilitation standards manager at Life without overlap. chosocial needs are addressed Rehabilitation. n Improved outcomes achieved over a timeously. To meet the huge need for this specialised shorter period of time. The service includes stabili- service, the first paediatric rehabilitation unit n Child and family centered, outcomes sation of medical co-morbidities; in KwaZulu-Natal opened at Life Entabeni driven rehabilitation. Hospital in Durban in 2009. The unit can patient and family education on n Simulation of a home environment where accommodate 10 children, as does the the correct post-surgery exer- the child has the opportunity to practice second paediatric rehabilitation unit, which tasks with increasing confidence. cises and movement, returning to has just opened at Life New Kensington n Focused and appropriate caregiver daily activity without compromis- Clinic in Johannesburg. training by all team members. ing physical limitations; recom- Children (under 12 years) who would men dation on home adaptations benefit from rehabilitation include those Paediatric rehabilitation programme with acquired neurological conditions, for and assistive devices to ensure Life Rehabilitation’s paediatric programme accessibility and safety in the example traumatic brain injury, spinal cord is focused on providing time limited, cost discharge environment; ad- injury or Guillan Barré syndrome, as well as effective and outcomes based intervention children with cerebral palsy who have limited early in the recovery process; thereby dressing psychosocial needs access to appropriate therapy resources, and ensuring that all medical, physical and of adjustment and coping; and children with degenerative conditions, such psychosocial needs are addressed timeously training of caregivers, if required. as muscular dystrophy. for an optimal outcome. The holistic, Patients also have the opportuni- A number of factors necessitate a interdisciplinary programme includes both ty to practice tasks in a simulated different approach to the rehabilitation of individual and group sessions. In addition home environment. children compared to that of adults.One such to medical care, individually targeted The programme offers factor is brain maturity, with a child’s brain intervention is developed for each child, still in the process of growing and developing based on a variety of standardised and numerous benefits, such as through an active process of learning and internationally recognised assessments, pre venting prolonged stay in acquiring new skills. The occurrence of brain which cover functioning across the spectrum an inappropriate, acute facility, injury resulting from illness or injury can of functional areas. Interdisciplinary team significantly decreasing the risk severely affect a child’s ability to achieve meetings are held regularly to assess the of complications post-operatively milestones as would normally be the case. child’s progress and, based on this, to and greatly improving patient Research evidence indicates that starting determine whether any adaptations should rehabilitation as early as possible is important be made to the programme that has been outcomes in shorter periods. in optimising recovery of brain function and developed for that specific child. reducing the level of short and long term 3 growing the service new in-patient pulmonary rehabilitation programme Pulmonary rehabilitation is increasingly recognised as an important part of the comprehensive management of patients with severe symptomatic lung disease, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Life Rehabilitation units based the only major disease with an increase in potential possible,” says Michelle. “Major at Life Riverfield Lodge in Nietgedacht its death rate. In 1990, the WHO ranked objectives are to control, alleviate and, northwest of Johannesburg, Life Entabeni COPD 12th in terms of the burden of if possible, reverse the symptoms and Hospital in Durban, Life New Kensington disease on the economy, but estimates pathophysiological processes leading Clinic in Johannesburg, Life Eugene that by 2020, it will rank fifth as the impact to respiratory impairment, as well as to Marais Hospital in Pretoria, Life Pasteur of COPD on the economy becomes improve the quality of the patient’s life and Hospital in Bloemfontein and Life St significantly bigger. to attempt to prolong it. Outcomes of such Dominic’s Hospital in East London are “Before admission, each referred a pulmonary rehabilitation programme offering a unique, structured inpatient patient is fully assessed to establish include an increase in exercise endurance pulmonary rehabilitation programme. the potential benefits of pulmonary and exercise work capacity; changes in “It is the only dedicated pulmonary rehabilitation. Our structured pulmonary biochemical muscle enzymes; a significant service offered within acute rehabilitation rehabilitation programme runs over a 10 reduction of dyspnoea; an improved