Residential Services - Intensive Rehabilitation
ABI Rehabilitation has residential rehabilitation services in Auckland and Wellington.
The Auckland Service has 27 beds dedicated to Intensive Rehabilitation. This service operates under the IRS01 Contract. For the most part, referrals come from the geographic area from Northland to Waikato. However, ABI Rehabilitation accepts referral from elsewhere in New Zealand where there is a special need and it is agreed with the ACC Case Manager. Referrals are accepted with two days of medical stability.
In Wellington, ABI Rehabilitation has 20 Active Rehabilitation beds. This service also accepts referrals from anywhere in New Zealand where appropriate however, these come mainly from the Wellington region. The service has very close links with each of the DHB’s in the region and referrals are accepted by agreement between the ACC case manager or NASC and the ABI Rehabilitation team.
The median length of stay (LOS) in Intensive or Active Rehabilitation is under 40 days. The maximum LOS under the IRS01 Contract is six months although the Contract can be renewed for an extended period where the client is achieving significant functional gains. The service works closely with the ACC National Serious Injury Service (NSIS) and collaboratively with family-whanau to achieve an optimal outcome and return the client to home if possible.
A significant feature of the IRS01 Contract is the focus on Early Intervention. This involves engagement with the client and family-whanau while still in the acute hospital. Our staff are located in each of the five DHB’s – Northland, Waitemata, Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waikato - and will meet the family-whanau as soon as practical as well as lead the communication with ACC in the early stages, while the client may still be in intensive care or in a neuro-surgical ward. This means that planning the rehabilitation pathway and establishing the circumstances and goals of the client and family-whanau, begins very early. Transition to our Intensive Rehabilitation Service is well planned and smooth and the rehabilitation team is well prepared to begin treating the person when they arrive.
Māori represent over a quarter of our client group. We are passionate about meeting the quality expectations of Māori whānau and this service will develop in the next twelve months with greater leadership from within and support from other Māori health providers.
In both Auckland and Wellington, our rehabilitation Physician and another key team member will usually meet the client while they are in hospital. Because partnership with family-whanau is so important, where appropriate, the Kaitiaki or Social Worker will be involved from the beginning to understand the client and whanau needs. If possible, there will be an informal family meeting attended by our team and the ACC case manager.
ABI manages a database with full clinical information for each client. This is available to ACC case managers in real time and is updated on a daily basis.
Complex Injuries
Both Auckland and Wellington services accept clients with complex needs.
Within the residential services, we offer full medical/nursing rehabilitation and care. This includes complex multi-trauma rehabilitation and neuro-behavioural rehab. About 70% of clients with traumatic brain injury will have other injuries that will impact on their recovery. After a brain injury many clients will also experience behavioural challenges, especially where drug and alcohol dependency is part of the presentation. Where there are concurrent mental health problems, we involve our neuro-psychiatrist.
For all clients in the residential services, we follow a pathway towards community participation or return to work and most clients will complete our Transitional Rehabilitation Programme.
In some cases clients with ‘old injuries’ are referred to us for residential assessment or bursts of rehab.
Longer-Term Residential Support
Both Auckland and Wellington services have contracts with ACC and the Ministry of Health for Residential Support where a client is unable to live at home because of their disability and support needs. Here, the focus is on quality of life and maintain good health and function. Clients and whanau have access to the same specialties as for the Intensive Service where this is required and agreed by ACC.
