Evidencing Social Work Interventions in Health Findings from

Evidencing Social Work Interventions in Health Findings from a local quality assurance project

Barwon Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional health services in Australia. Barwon Health cover the full spectrum from primary care, community services, aged care, rehabilitation, mental health, emergency and acute care. Specialist services extend north to Werribee and south to the South Australian border for major specialities such as cancer, cardiology and cardio-thoracic surgery.

University Hospital Geelong, has a full suite of medical and surgical services. It is a general medical and surgical teaching hospital. 370 inpatient beds 10 operating theatres 24 ICU beds 24 hr emergency dept Oncology & radiation services through Andrew Love Cancer Centre 17 Social Workers around UHG site

Background Social Work in health is obvious Articulating the diverse role AASW provides great Scope of Practice publications Need local evidence and data Difficulty with existing data systems.

Intent Gather existing local evidence to demonstrate the diverse and sometimes complex nature of the SW role within Barwon Health. Seek to answer questions about the nature of SW interventions at Barwon Health, and any notable distinctions between different streams. Initially small and manageable to test the method to then consider broader scope.

Method Data mining using a randomized and de-identified sample was completed using Aria, i. PMS, and BOSSnet patient record systems 12 months to 31 March 2016 Three full-time staff Oncology (both inpatient/outpatient) Other acute wards (largely Gen Med) Inductive coding process

Some initial findings - demographics 1181 Unique Records 2987 contacts 2. 25 hours per UR 125 individual URs randomly selected for analysis 55 oncology 66 other acute 4 unknown

Some initial findings - demographics Gender Oncology Other acute 47% Female 55% Female ATSI: 4% Now deceased: Oncology 42% (68. 5 yrs) Other acute 15% (81. 9 yrs)

Some initial findings - demographics Oncology Patients by Postcode [VALUE] 3214; 7 3215; 2 other regional; 14 [VALUE] 3216; 11 [CATEGORY NAME], [VALUE] 3212 3213 3214 [VALUE] 3218; 1 3215 3216 3217 3218 3219 3220 3222 -8 3241 other regional

Some initial findings - demographics Other acute patients [CATEGORY NAME], [VALUE] 3220; 4 3219; 5 [CATEGORY NAME], [VALUE] 3212 3213 3214 3215 3216 3217 3218 3219 3220 [CATEGORY NAME], [VALUE] 3222 -8 3241 other regional

Some initial findings - psychosocial Oncology Lives with Other acute 21. 8 Alone 31. 8 49. 1 Partner 24. 2 27. 3 Family 25. 8 1. 8 Other 7. 6 Oncology Strengths Other acute 74. 6 23. 6 20. 0 14. 6 27. 3 Family Friends Services Mood Community 62. 1 7. 6 34. 9 1. 5 4. 6

Some initial findings - psychosocial Oncology 72. 7 21. 8 10. 1 20. 0 21. 8 36. 4 9. 1 5. 5 1. 8 16. 4 7. 3 9. 1 5. 5 Stressors Illness Financial Legal Accommodation Transport Mood Mental Illness AOD Family Violence Child Protection Isolate Unemployment Conflict Capacity Other acute 45. 5 10. 6 39. 4 7. 6 13. 6 22. 7 18. 2 3. 0 0. 0 9. 1 6. 1 16. 7 12. 1

Some initial findings –intervention Oncology Contact hours Other acute Oncology Contact with other acute 50. 9 1 -2 69. 7 81. 8 Patient 63. 6 18. 2 3 -4 15. 2 45. 5 Family 50. 0 25. 5 5 -9 9. 1 14. 6 Other 15. 2 5. 5 10 -14 0. 0 15 -19 0. 0 20 -30 4. 6 0. 0 30+ 1. 5

Some initial findings –intervention Oncology Emotional/ Counselling Other acute 41. 8 52. 7 Grief/loss Adjustment 6. 1 7. 6 3. 6 10. 9 40. 0 9. 1 0. 0 3. 6 14. 6 23. 6 Mediation Legacy Acceptance Relaxation Psycho ed Trauma Family Mtg EOLC 6. 1 0. 0 10. 6 1. 5 4. 6 3. 0 19. 7 4. 6 Oncology Practical Other acute 20. 0 16. 4 40. 0 43. 6 0. 0 3. 6 34. 6 3. 6 Centrelink Finances Info Referral VCAT Accom DC plan Legal 12. 1 4. 6 25. 8 40. 9 4. 6 10. 6 51. 5 12. 1

Some initial findings –referrals Oncology Internal Other acute Oncology External Other acute 7. 58 1. 8 Allied Health 7. 6 16. 36 Centrelink 1. 8 ALCC 0. 0 16. 36 Cancer Council 12. 7 Med Team 16. 7 5. 45 ACAS 10. 1 Cancer Nurse 0. 0 9 5. 5 Palliative Care 0. 0 1. 82 GP 4. 55 0. 0 Inpt Rehab 10. 6 5. 45 Counsellor 6. 06 5. 5 Other SW 16. 7 5. 45 Legal 0 10. 1 Other 19. 7 7. 27 Financial 0 1. 82 Can. Teen 0 6. 34 NDIS 4. 55 0 SRS 1. 52 Carer Support 0 21. 21 0

Some initial reflections - limitations Raw data Local only Only captures what was recorded in patient file Researching my own work and work area

Some initial reflections - opportunities Showed a useful methodology Understanding of role diversity Take to non SW professionals Complement existing material promoting SW role in Barwon Health Repeat in 12 months

Thank you Paul Dodemaide Social Worker Barwon Health 4215 0777 pdodem@barwonhealth. org. au @PRDodem