Evaluating integrated services: An approach to improving client outcomes

Abstract

In the disability field, the quality of transition services is gravely under-studied Transitions have been identified as the next major quality improvement challenge for the disability and health systems (Cotter et al., 2002). The Spinal Cord Injury Response (SCIR) was initiated in 2005 to implement a co-ordinated approach to support people with spinal injury transitioning from hospital back to community living. It was anticipated that SCIR would provide a planned, integrated response to reduce the delays in discharge caused by the availability of appropriate equipment, housing, community services and support thus improving flow through the hospital, access to support and minimise acute care costs. The ultimate aim was to ensure people with recently acquired SCI resumed a quality lifestyle amongst family and friends with ongoing community-based disability support. The SCIR program was comprehensively evaluated by an independent team of evaluators. This paper will describe the evaluation methodology and the main findings. The evaluation indicated that SCIR provided an integrated response. For clients, returning home was easier and more supported than for non-SCIR clients.