Providing a QuickStart for people with newly acquired spinal cord injury: a new model of care offering in-reach advice and support.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive study of a pilot model of care named QuickStart.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the eligibility, rehabilitation pathways, team composition, and service delivery of a novel model of care for people with newly acquired spinal cord injuries (SCI).

SETTING

Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service, Metro South Health, Queensland, Australia.

METHODS

In April 2022, QuickStart was established with a multidisciplinary team of health professionals to provide early in-reach specialist SCI expertise to individuals with newly acquired spinal cord injury and their treating clinicians.

RESULTS

Between July 2022 and June 2024, QuickStart accepted 508 patients who were admitted to a Queensland or northern New South Wales hospital. Patients who received QuickStart support followed one of two pathways: they completed their primary rehabilitation in the Spinal Injuries Unit (SIU) at Princess Alexandra Hospital or at another facility. QuickStart provides specialised SCI support to patients and their treating team via a range of modalities including face-to-face review, telephone and videoconference. Referral numbers increased by 22% from the first year of operation, along with a 38% increase in the average QuickStart caseload. Patients received, on average, 12 occasions of service and a total service provision time of 452 min. All QuickStart patients received referrals to other specialised SCI community services within the Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service.

CONCLUSION

QuickStart is a promising model of care that has improved access to specialised SCI expertise for individuals with newly acquired SCI, particularly those who may not have immediate access to specialised rehabilitation services.