Regional aged residents a priority
The University of South Australia, together with one of the state’s leading aged care organisations, launched their Regional Mobile Health Clinic yesterday (Wednesday, 10 August 2011). The specially fitted vehicle will offer high quality learning experiences for Health Science students, while providing health services to ageing people in rural and regional areas.
The University of South Australia, together with one of the state’s leading aged care organisations, launched their Regional Mobile Health Clinic yesterday (Wednesday, 10 August 2011).
The specially fitted vehicle will offer high quality learning experiences for Health Science students, while providing health services to ageing people in rural and regional areas.
The university’s Dean of Health and Clinical Education, Professor Esther May, says the idea was initially mapped out in October last year.
“We have 110 students involved in working with aged care clients in facilities around the state, and to now be able to provide mobile services in regional areas will ensure these students are exposed to a wider group which will allow them to learn firsthand about the needs of both rural and metropolitan people,” Professor May says.
She says students are gaining experience in a wide variety of areas such as rehabilitation, nutrition, medication management and equipment and aids. Most importantly the students are participating in providing services under supervision in residential and community settings, in the city and rurally.
Based at a facility in the Southern Flinders Ranges city of Port Pirie, the mobile clinic will travel throughout the northern areas districts of the state, providing allied health services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and occupational therapy to older Australians in aged care.
The creators of the mobile clinic say the initiative offers ‘real world’ learning experiences for students as well as providing health services to ageing people in rural and regional areas of South Australia.
The program was granted $1.8 million from the Department of Health and Ageing, which has allowed the students to gain experience and firsthand knowledge of the kind of care ageing clients require.
The mobile clinic was officially launched by Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, at a morning tea on the lawns of the University of South Australia’s City East Campus.
More than 60 guests attended the launch including students representing disciplines of physiotherapy, podiatry, pharmacy, occupational therapy and nursing.
