As part of the planning for an innovative approach to delivery of a wellness model that incorporates allied health, Bupa engaged Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) to facilitate an Innovator Training Program. The program helped prepare their team to design the model and run the project.
Bupa is now piloting a primary healthcare approach to care delivery that aims to empower nurses and improve access to allied and primary care. It is being trialled across six Bupa homes, using geographically based Wellness Hubs set up across Queensland.
Bupa Quality Director, Ms Mel White, said that they were lucky enough to complete the in-house ARIIA training, and were encouraged to think outside the box and use evidence-based practices to better plan and implement the project.
“The ARIIA program and team have been an amazing resource for us.”
"We know that we must shift from an illness and reactive approach to care to a restoration and wellbeing-centred care model, but like everyone in the sector, we have workforce challenges to overcome. This wellness focus relies on holistic resident assessments and provision of reablement services, with regional homes facing limited-service access compared to metropolitan ones,” said Mel.
“’Through participation in the ARIIA Innovation Training Program we were encouraged by independent facilitators to take the time needed to understand what the challenges were and identify solutions. As a result, we sharpened our critical thinking skills for problem-solving and gained a deeper understanding of effective implementation. “
Professor Sue Gordon, ARIIA’s Lead Researcher, welcomes the Wellness Hub initiative as it supports not only the proposed national aged care reforms for multidisciplinary team care but also the new nurse practitioner workforce plan for person-centred care in Australian communities.
“ARIIA was engaged to provide real and practical support for the Bupa team from the outset,” said Sue.
“Working with the Bupa team, we facilitated their project planning process, using an evidence-based approach to empower them to implement change at both the strategic and operational levels within the organisation."
The Bupa Wellness Hubs, led by nurse practitioners, in partnership with general practitioners and local health teams, review and manage multidisciplinary care, including telehealth.
Daily team meetings held with care home clinical leaders ensure seamless coordination of care, while carer therapists are placed into each Wellness Hub to facilitate care plans and support telehealth consultations.
“The wellness hubs align with our vision of becoming the world's foremost customer-centric healthcare organisation,” said Mel. “We have an unwavering commitment to provide secure, top-tier healthcare services and experiences that consistently surpass the expectations of our residents and their families.”
"The Wellness Hubs are already making a positive impact on residents in our six Bupa regional homes. Referrals to allied health services have increased by an average of 113% in our pilot homes, with the most significant uptick seen in nurse practitioner, dietitian, and speech pathology referrals.”
“Furthermore, 92% of newly admitted residents received referrals and were reviewed by the multidisciplinary team within their first week of admission. We've also observed a decrease in wound healing time across the pilot homes and an uptick in residents participating in group exercise classes and other restorative therapies."
The Wellness Hubs are already having a positive impact on resident outcomes. These include proactive healthcare management, enhanced admission experiences, smoother care transitions, reduced hospital transfers, and improved clinical indicators. “The main benefits to us are that the referrals to allied health are actioned quickly and the Nurse Practitioner follows up quickly and effectively - it has been a great help. So has having the opportunity to discuss clinical concerns with the multidisciplinary team.”, reports one of the staff delivering care at a pilot site.
Workforce capability will also be improved, with new career pathways for registered nurses to become nurse practitioners, and carers to transition into carer therapist roles.
The Wellness Hubs trial will continue for the next 2 months and roll out across Australia early next year.