A little green Daihatsu is making a big difference to Robina Hospital rehabilitation patients who need to learn how to get in and out of a car again after injury or illness.
Dolores was refurbished and modified to fit into the hospital¡¯s lifts for transportation to her new home on the rehabilitation therapy gymnasium on level two.
Physiotherapy staff won a $25,000 Gold Coast Health Improvers innovation grant to deliver the project.
Project lead Ali Longmire says since being installed on the ward, ¡°Dolores¡± had become instrumental in giving patients the confidence to carry out important tasks like grocery shopping and driving to their GP.
¡°Previously we would have to book a vehicle through the hospital booking systems, drive the fleet car over to the hospital and walk the patient downstairs. Now the same training is just a few steps away,¡± Ali said.
¡°Not only does this promote better health outcomes but it also means we can capitalise on the co-location of the ¡®Life Space¡¯ mock grocery store on our ward, so patients can practice carting their groceries to their car and loading them in etc.
¡°We tend to take the ability to do these types of tasks for granted but they really are key to maintaining the independence and wellbeing of our patients.¡±
Therapy patient Jerry Antoniuk is due to go home at the end of June after a leg amputation in May. Jerry attributes much of his mobility to the hospital¡¯s therapy facilities and the expertise of allied health staff.
¡°Being able to get in and out of a car is really important and having one in the gymnasium has given staff more capacity to support my therapy progress with reviews and adjustments,¡± Jerry said.
¡°I¡¯ve come a significantly long way. The whole team that has looked after me have been exceptional.¡±
Allied Health Executive Director Sara Burrett said the therapy vehicle had become a key part of the rehabilitation process for patients.
¡°Dolores might be a little car but she is making a big impact on our efforts to help patients get well so they can get back on their feet after suffering an illness or injury,¡± Sara said.
¡°I am always impressed by our allied health team¡¯s ambition to make a difference to our patients lives and this therapy car project is another great example of that.¡±