Outpatient Referral Criteria (revised February 2002)

The priority for services for the Speech Pathology Department is to the inpatients of the RAH. Availability of outpatient appointments may fluctuate therefore, depending on inpatient caseload demands. Outpatient services are provided when functional outcomes can be achieved within the clinical setting. Services are only provided onsite at the RAH.

Prior to placing a patient on the Outpatient waiting list, the following items need to be considered to determine eligibility.

Outpatient acceptance criteria:

• Speech Pathology Inpatients discharged from RAH:

Priority will be given to Speech Pathology inpatients recently discharged from the RAH when the referral directly relates to their inpatient management and when they are unable to access or are ineligible for other community services.

• Adelaide Voice Clinic Referrals for Voice Therapy

Patients will be offered an initial session of voice education by the clinician involved in the Voice Clinic. They will then be placed on the waiting list for treatment, if required.

• Dysphagia Referrals

Will be given priority on a case by case basis.

• Other referrals not excluded as outlined below.

Whenever an outpatient referral is accepted the patient will be advised that therapy will be offered initially for up to 4 sessions with subsequent review by clinician regarding appropriateness of ongoing input and determined by regularity of attendance. (see non attendance policy)

Exclusion criteria

• The patient is unable to attend the RAH Speech Pathology Department.

Following discussions in January, 2002, the Director of Nursing, Anaesthesia, Allied Health and General Services has deemed that previously offered one off review visits at the Nursing Home for patients seen by Speech Pathology whilst an inpatient at RAH, are no longer available.

• More appropriate community services are available.

• The patient has undergone a course of treatment from community services eg BIRU/HRC program. The patient or referring body should be advised to contact the previous service provider to determine appropriate ongoing services.

• The patient will not achieve functional outcomes within a clinical setting but would be better suited to a home/community/vocational based service (eg intellectual disability, developmental disorder, multiple disability from childhood).

NB: On a case by case basis, patients may be offered assessment and recommendations by the Student Unit

• Outpatients not meeting referral criteria will be advised, where possible, of alternative services.

Non-Attendance Policy

The outpatient will be discharged at the clinician’s discretion for repeated non-attendance without notification. A letter of notification of discharge will be sent

To address irregular attendance an informal contract will be established. If the patient is unable to comply they will be discharged.