Quality patient care the key to Lisa’s many roles

Quality patient care the key to Lisa’s many roles

For physiotherapist Lisa, making a positive difference to patients has been central to the wide variety of positions she has had at Alfred Health. 

With roles including Manual Handling Co-ordinator, Falls Clinic Co-Ordinator, STRIDE project lead and also as a Feldenkrais Physiotherapist within the Pain Management Clinic, Lisa has worked in a range of rewarding roles, responsibilities which have allowed her to build her knowledge and skill set.  

While she has worked in community and subacute rehabilitation, Lisa has more recently supported people in the Hotel Support Services program, including those with complex needs. 

 “While it was a totally different environment to a hospital, I was able to utilise all my knowledge and skills within the one role. I really enjoyed the challenge of setting up an allied health service in a difficult environment, with challenging rules and regulations and trying to meet the needs of residents.” 

“I felt we did some amazing work, not only with the care provided to residents and help to keep them out of our hospital network, but also keeping our own teams safe. It was a real multi-agency collaboration working alongside COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV), Spotless, Victoria Police and the hotels themselves. It was really lovely having the support of some amazing people.”  

“Our role included looking after their physical, functional and emotional needs. Many returning residents had been without healthcare for a very long time. It was about attending to their immediate needs, keeping them safe,  facilitating their exit and where required, link them into local healthcare services.”

Among the people Lisa cared for within the Hotel Support Service were Afghan refugees, with up to 100 residents coming from repatriation flights. 

“The Afghan refugees were just so appreciative. They were so grateful to be in a safe environment and so well cared for. They were lovely to look after – an absolute joy. We also worked alongside refugee support service AMES to facilitate their hotel exits, ensuring they had suitable equipment and made recommendations for suitable housing.”

Today, Lisa is leading the HARP – Rapid Response Service Project, to support Alfred Health’s virtual and home-based models of care.  The service will receive referrals by the Virtual ED team and provide a timely (within 24-48 hours) Allied Health response, where required, to those in the community. Aiming to optimise their safety and function and facilitate ongoing, longer term care requirements for the patient/family to remain safe and confident at home.  

“It’s a model which aims to stop people from presenting and re-presenting to the  Emergency Department if they didn’t need to.”

“The immediate needs of a patient might be more evident in a home environment. It can give us a bit more of a holistic view, while also having good safety and escalation support to hospital if needed.” 

Lisa also recalls her work in the Amputee Clinic.

“When you see people get their new limbs, and get back to walking, moving about the house, and normal life again it is rewarding as well. I’ve even had patients tell me how they are now going on bike rides or even hiking in the You Yangs. It’s lovely to get those messages back.”  

And that is why Lisa does it. 

“One of the best things about working at Alfred Health is the numerous opportunities and variety of roles I’ve had. I’ve been exposed to a range of positions which have been  challenging and complex at the same time.” 

“However, when you see the work our teams are doing is making a difference, it’s really rewarding.” 

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