Spinal Outreach Service
The client-focussed Spinal Outreach Service is part of the broader State Rehabilitation Service based at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
The Spinal Outreach Service (SOS) provides specialist knowledge, advice, early intervention and education to:
- people with spinal cord injury over the age of 16
- carers and families
- clinicians, service coordinators and care providers.
The service works collaboratively with the State Spinal Injury Inpatient Service (Ward 1A) to support transition from hospital to the community. It also provides an advisory service to wards across Fiona Stanley and Fremantle hospitals who are caring for a patient with a spinal cord injury.
Supported by a spinal rehabilitation consultant and a team leader, the SOS team includes:
- occupational therapists
- physiotherapists
- social workers
- clinical nurses
- an administration assistant.
The outreach team mainly use telephone and telehealth to advise clients, carers and service providers on issues relating to their independence and self-managing their condition.
People with spinal cord injury should continue to contact their general practitioner (GP) for non-urgent medical issues, or in an emergency visit their nearest emergency department (HealthyWA).
Service streams
The Spinal Outreach Service operates the following five service streams.
Community Rehabilitation Program
The Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) supports people being discharged from hospital following a spinal cord injury. It works closely with Rehabilitation in the Home (RITH) (external site) and other services to assist with the transition from the hospital setting to the community.
The program aims to promote independence and provide education and advice to the person, their family and local service providers as required.
Clients, their families, carers or service providers can contact the service at any time for advice.
Consultation and advisory service
The SOS provides consultation and advisory support for those already living in the community to maintain their functional independence and self-manage their condition in the community.
Clients, their families, carers or service providers can contact the service at any time for advice.
Spinal pressure injury advice
The service provides advice on prevention and early intervention when a client has developed a pressure injury by supporting the client and community services to:
- determine potential causes of the pressure injury
- work collaboratively to support management of the pressure injury in the community.
If you develop a pressure injury, please contact the Spinal Outreach Service for advice – early intervention is important.
Education
Education sessions on various topics relating to long term management following spinal cord injury are delivered to clients and community service providers.
Ventilator Dependent Quadriplegic – Community Care Program
The Ventilator Dependent Quadriplegic – Community Care Program (VDQ–CCP) provides a statewide service to people with spinal cord injury who are ventilator dependent. The program is based at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
The program supports patients, families and other health services in the care of ventilator dependant patients, including:
- transition from hospital to the community
- readmission to hospital
- specialist advice on individualised community care needs.
How to access our services
Self-referral
People with a spinal cord injury, their families and carers who wish to use this service can either
- phone 6152 1153
- email Spinal Outreach Service.
Health professional referral
If you wish to refer a patient, please either:
- phone 6152 1153
- fax via RightFax on 6152 4861
- email Spinal Outreach Service
Contact us
Phone 6152 1153 or email Spinal Outreach Service
Location
State Rehabilitation Service building (next to the main hospital building and Mental Health Unit)
11 Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch, WA 6150 – see the Fiona Stanley Hospital map (PDF 1MB)
Operating hours
8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
An answering service is available to receive messages team members are taking other calls and after hours.