Mousa A1, Rau B2
1ICRC, Physical Rehabilitation Program, Gaza, Palestine, 2ICRC, Physical Rehabilitation Program, Geneva, Swaziland
Background: Physiotherapy is well represented in the Gaza strip with high number of trained physiotherapists (PTs) and physiotherapist assistants (PTAs). Although physiotherapy services were available to surgical in-patients in all six hospitals, there was a lack of communication and collaboration between the PTs/PTAs and the medical/surgical staff and an absence of dedicated facilities to provide physiotherapy (PT) services. As a result, ICRC developed in 2008 a project in cooperation with the management of 6 hospitals and the MoH to address the gaps in quality PT.
Purpose: The aim of the project was to improve post-surgical PT services provided for in-patients at MOH hospitals with the purpose of improving the continuum of care from acute surgical care to physical rehabilitation. Four specific objectives were defined: re-organization of physiotherapy departments, quality of physiotherapy services, inclusion of PTs and PTAs in the medical team and improve external referral of patients to appropriate services after discharge; overarching goal was also to promote sustainable services delivery by lobbying at MOH level.
Methods: The project was reviewed periodically at both ICRC and ministerial levels using various means such as discussions, project planning tools, training or mentorships and thorough qualitative and quantitative reporting.
Results: The ICRC led project between 2008-2013 has significantly improved inpatients PT in six hospitals in the Gaza Strip: additional PT space was provided, training and coaching provided, equipment donated, additional staffing as well as expansion and recognition of the PTs/PTAs' roles. These improvements were confirmed during the last crises 2014 Gaza conflict & 2018 Great Return March (GRM) were hospital PTs /PTAs demonstrated effective interventions during a time of overcrowding and large scale admissions of surgical cases. PTs coordinated early treatment with provision of around 3500 mobility assistive devices ICRC provided to allow immediate provision to patients and facilitate rapid discharge; PTs also cared to organize treatment plans post discharge. This case management role allowed surgical staff to concentrate on life saving surgical care for newly admitted cases.PT/patient interaction was source of psychological support and comforted patients with a stronger motivation to attain optimal functional outcome. The collaboration between PTs and surgical teams showed improved multidisciplinary teamwork which helped smoothen high workload and stress consequent to the conflict.
Conclusion(s): All objectives of the ICRC 2008-2013 project set were attained in the ways that quality PT services were delivered to in patients in six hospitals in the Gaza Strip, the correct administrative tasks, use of equipment, patient follow up, the plan for continuous professional development and better professional recognition. This was well evidenced during the 2014 conflict & GRM where PT`s increased their influence within the multidisciplinary teams and took up roles and responsibilities they had not previously.
Implications: This type of project is particularly needed in contexts where emergencies are recurrent and where hospital physiotherapy is less developed but greatly needed to ensure early rehabilitation which allows optimal bed occupancy.
Keywords: Gaza, Physiotherapy, ICRC, Emergency
Funding acknowledgements: NA
Purpose: The aim of the project was to improve post-surgical PT services provided for in-patients at MOH hospitals with the purpose of improving the continuum of care from acute surgical care to physical rehabilitation. Four specific objectives were defined: re-organization of physiotherapy departments, quality of physiotherapy services, inclusion of PTs and PTAs in the medical team and improve external referral of patients to appropriate services after discharge; overarching goal was also to promote sustainable services delivery by lobbying at MOH level.
Methods: The project was reviewed periodically at both ICRC and ministerial levels using various means such as discussions, project planning tools, training or mentorships and thorough qualitative and quantitative reporting.
Results: The ICRC led project between 2008-2013 has significantly improved inpatients PT in six hospitals in the Gaza Strip: additional PT space was provided, training and coaching provided, equipment donated, additional staffing as well as expansion and recognition of the PTs/PTAs' roles. These improvements were confirmed during the last crises 2014 Gaza conflict & 2018 Great Return March (GRM) were hospital PTs /PTAs demonstrated effective interventions during a time of overcrowding and large scale admissions of surgical cases. PTs coordinated early treatment with provision of around 3500 mobility assistive devices ICRC provided to allow immediate provision to patients and facilitate rapid discharge; PTs also cared to organize treatment plans post discharge. This case management role allowed surgical staff to concentrate on life saving surgical care for newly admitted cases.PT/patient interaction was source of psychological support and comforted patients with a stronger motivation to attain optimal functional outcome. The collaboration between PTs and surgical teams showed improved multidisciplinary teamwork which helped smoothen high workload and stress consequent to the conflict.
Conclusion(s): All objectives of the ICRC 2008-2013 project set were attained in the ways that quality PT services were delivered to in patients in six hospitals in the Gaza Strip, the correct administrative tasks, use of equipment, patient follow up, the plan for continuous professional development and better professional recognition. This was well evidenced during the 2014 conflict & GRM where PT`s increased their influence within the multidisciplinary teams and took up roles and responsibilities they had not previously.
Implications: This type of project is particularly needed in contexts where emergencies are recurrent and where hospital physiotherapy is less developed but greatly needed to ensure early rehabilitation which allows optimal bed occupancy.
Keywords: Gaza, Physiotherapy, ICRC, Emergency
Funding acknowledgements: NA
Topic: Disability & rehabilitation
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: ICRC
Ethics committee: ICRC
Reason not required: there is no patients sample, only activities report
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
