The purpose of the service
The active rehabilitation service is for claimants who have:
- Suffered a serious injury, specifically a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and have recently been discharged from the acute setting.
- An assessed need that requires a period of intensive rehabilitation in a structured environment.
The objective of the service is to help claimants reach their rehabilitation potential and maximise their independence as quickly as possible.
The service is not age specific, however paediatric services are only provided at the Wilson centre which is the only specialist children’s rehabilitation service in New Zealand.
How a claimant accesses the service
Claimants are referred for treatment by ACC claims managers, once the claimant reaches the rehabilitation stage of their treatment. The Acute DHB that provides the treatment must liaise with the claims manager regarding the best place for the claimant’s rehabilitation.
What the service involves
Services will be provided in a facility that is part of a specialised rehabilitation setting. This will be an integrated, community-focused facility, preferably in a community setting specific to their claimant group, with provision for environmental management and safety measures.
The services provided must meet the following requirements:
- The services are provided at an active rehabilitation facility.
- There is a clinical leader for the services.
- A named specialist will provide the services.
- A multi-disciplinary team is employed primarily to provide therapy to claimants in the service.
- A key worker must be appointed to each claimant. That person will facilitate rehabilitation activities and communication with the claimant, family/whanau, ACC, and other parties. The key worker for each claimant will be identified within five working days of transfer.
- The provider must have a commitment to rehabilitation principles and best practice, ie:
- maximising the independence of the claimant.
- rehabilitation that is goal-directed, outcome-focused, and time-framed.
- the principles of community-focused rehabilitation with links to community therapy and community nursing services.
- weekly multi-disciplinary case conferences attended by medical, nursing, and therapy staff. Claims managers will be invited to attend these meetings to discuss claimants.
- setting up family/whanau meetings as required by the multi-disciplinary team and with the approval of the claimant, or to meet any reasonable request by the claimant and whanau/family. At least one such meeting should be held before discharge.
- The provider gives training to caregivers and/or family to enable them to care for the claimant where required.
Service standards
Services will be provided in compliance with the:
- Philosophies of Hauora Maori, and
- Current clinical, ethical, and professional standards and guidelines, including the Health and Disability Sector Standards, and with the degree of professional skill, care, and diligence expected of an appropriately qualified person experienced in providing the same or similar services.
- Law including (without limitation) the Privacy Act 1993, the Health Information Privacy Code 1994, the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights 1996, and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
- Stipulated timeframes, cost(s), and quality objectives of ACC.
- Record keeping requirements to ensure that clinical records are kept up to date.
Within six months of the Vendor entering into this contract, the provider will submit evidence to satisfy ACC that they have:
- Complied with the Health and Disability Sector Standards (not yet published at the date of this contract), or
- Taken steps towards complying with the Health and Disability Sector Standards, or
- Received accreditation from an external agency approved by ACC which uses the Health and Disability Sector Standards as their minimum benchmark for accreditation, or
- Taken steps towards such accreditation from an external agency approved by ACC which uses the Health and Disability Sector Standards as their minimum benchmark for accreditation.
The provider will, when requested by ACC, submit evidence that they have a system for ensuring continued compliance with either the Health and Disability Sector Standards or their accreditation from an external agency in accordance with this schedule.
Qualifications required
The Active Rehabilitation contract ensures that services are carried out only by people who have the appropriate minimum qualifications and expertise, and who receive an appropriate level of supervision. Specialists involved in providing services must be named specialists.
Named specialists
Named specialists will be physicians employed by the service who will preferably be Fellows of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Other specialists
ACC will also consider specialists who hold a vocational registration in other branches of medicine and who have an interest, and proven work experience, in rehabilitation.