RFP Q&A: Physiotherapists in Emergency Departments (Lead Organisations)Physiotherapists in Emergency Departments (Lead Organisations)

RFP Q&A: Physiotherapists in Emergency Departments (Lead Organisations)

Extended Scopes of Practice - Physiotherapists in Emergency Departments (Lead Organisations) (HWA-RFP/2011/007)

To submit a question on this Request for Proposal, please email HWA_ESPL_RFP1@hwa.gov.au.

Questions and answers will be added as they are submitted and responded to; please visit regularly for updates.

Information session presentation

An audio-visual presentation given during an online information session for this RFP on February 28 2012 is available below.  Please right-click on the link to download and view.

3) Is the proposal limited to sites that have existing models that are established or is there scope to develop/ extend the service further prior to developing the implementation model?

The RFP is looking for organisations that have mature models in place.  HWA would expect the lead organisations would then assist the implementation sites to implement these models. HWA welcome the opportunity for the lead organisations to further develop their models. This is likely to occur either  by the lead organisations prior to engagement with implementation sites or collaboratively during the course of the project.

2) By definition, “extended” scope of practice is those tasks which are not currently completed (or traditionally recognised as being performed) by Physiotherapists because of particular barriers (legislative or otherwise). Some of these areas, such as prescribing rights, external referrals for specialists and imaging and even issuing Workcover Initial Certificates of capacity (which would then fall to medical practitioners, adding to their burden) are limited by legislative barriers which would require lobbying and significant support to change, particularly in a short period of time. In the documentation, it doesn’t direct or limit the proposed innovations, but would proposals which include these tasks (which may require legal change and would hence require liaison with government departments) be supported or does this project mainly target local change (which can be reproduced elsewhere)?

A lead organisation is defined as one that has a mature service model in place (with training capacity) that can be rolled out on a national basis. The lead organisations will be expected to undertake a mentoring role and have on going professional linkages with the implementation sites.

As it is anticipated that the lead organisation has the majority of the mature model in place, it is also anticipated that this may include work to have permission for extended scope of practice such as, being able under the local drugs and poisons act to prescribe a limited range of drugs and/or protocols in the hospitals to allow referral to a specialist, Imaging or Pathology.

HWA will accept proposals that require the changes that you refer to as long as the mechanisms are available to enable the proposed model to be implemented. HWA will also accept proposals regarding local change that can be reproduced elsewhere.

1) Can you advise if the $600,000 in funding for the Physiotherapy ESP project is expected to fund the expenses of the lead organisation and all the participating organisations or is this funding just earmarked for the lead organisation to run the project? If the funding is split between lead and participating organisations, what percentage of this funding would be allocated to the lead organisation to run the project?

To clarify; the $600,000 for the Lead Organisations - Extended Scope of Practice Physiotherapists in the Emergency Department is for up to 2 Lead Organisations only i.e. up to $300,000 available for each Lead Organisation. There will be a further RFP process for Implementation Sites that will be issued following the RFP process for the Lead Organisations. There will be separate funding available for the Implementation Sites.