Student scheme being trialled
RAISING awareness and understanding complex needs in rural communities.
This is the brief for a new student placement programme which is now being trialled at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde.
The Central Otago Rural Health Integrated Student Programme (Crisp) has been set up as a means to assemble and coordinate allied health students across varying disciplines to work together in teams as part of their placements.
The project has been introduced by various Central Otago Health Services Ltd (COHSL) allied health therapists and supported by a grant from the Rural Aotearoa Research Network.
COHSL physiotherapy service coordinator Sarah Walker said the programme was valuable for both students and hospital staff.
‘‘It’s different when you’re a student coming in and working with qualified staff members who do this all the time versus working with students who are learning the same things and are developing a way of working in a team.
‘‘It takes a bit of the load off us as supervisors because we’re able to share the students around a lot easier.
‘‘You’ve got your core skills but then there are skills which are shared between your discipline and another discipline.
‘‘It makes patient care more efficient and effective.’’
Three students comprising of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and social work disciplines are in their final year of study and have begun placements at Dunstan.
The lack of resource in rural communities was forcing hospitals to be more creative, COHSL medical social work service coordinator Alice Romano said.
‘‘It’s creating an ability to work anywhere with anybody and with very little.’’
Ms Walker said she hoped the programme would eventually extend to the primary healthcare space.