Rising to workforce challenges: e-PIMH in rural and remote Queensland
Rising to workforce challenges: e-PIMH in rural and remote Queensland Conference Paper
14th National Rural Health Conference: A World of Rural Health
- Author(s): Baldwin, A, Kikkawa, Naomi
- Secondary Author(s): Coleman, Leanne
- Published: 2017
- Publisher: National Rural Health Alliance
Abstract: Rural and remote health managers encounter the same workforce challenges over and over again: the challenge of responding skilfully to high-risk disorders in areas of low population density; the difficulty of providing appropriate professional development and support for isolated clinicians; frustrations associated with high staff turnover. Perinatal mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, can have enduring negative impacts on mothers, fathers, their infants, and the entire family. Suicide is a leading cause of death for mothers in the first year after the end of a pregnancy. Parental mental health issues, and/or problems in the parent-infant relationship, can have life-long adverse effects on the health, wellbeing and development of children. e-PIMH is a pilot project implemented by the Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (QCPIMH) from February to August 2016. The project operated in the four most rural Queensland Hospital and Health Services: South West, Central West, North West, and Torres and Cape. The project used a central point of contact (‘one stop shop’) to provide non-clinical advice and support, training, education and resources, for rural and remote practitioners working with parents, infants and families. The aim of this pilot project was to increase capacity within the existing rural and remote workforce to support perinatal and infant mental health, detect perinatal and/or infant mental health issues, and make early and appropriate referrals. Participating organisations included primary and secondary healthcare providers, along with early childhood services and young parents’ services, several of which were Indigenous-led organisations. Twelve training sessions were conducted with 172 participants, mostly front-line workers. Seventy-two meetings were held with 159 people, including medical staff and service managers. Most trainings and meetings were conducted face-to-face in regional centres, augmented by extensive use of videoconferencing, telephone and email contacts. A regular email was sent out, print and audio-visual resources were distributed, and staff were linked with other services for advice, referral information and supervision. A survey to evaluate the e-PIMH pilot garnered a 30% response rate. The paper will report on key findings including: participants’ self-reported benefits from participating in e-PIMH, for themselves and their clients; perceived strengths of the e-PIMH model for building capacity in the rural and remote workforce to respond early and effectively to high-risk disorders, support isolated staff, and reduce the negative impacts of staff turnover; suggested improvements to the e-PIMH model.
- Urls: http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/14nrhc/sites/default/files/Kikkawa%2C%20Naomi_C6_0.pdf Available from, http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/14nrhc/program/concurrent-speakers Download site
- Publisher Location: Cairns