eNews Spring 2022

The launch of EnableNSW Online has been delayed to 2023

The EnableNSW Online platform that was due to go live at the end of 2022 has now been delayed to 2023.

‘We have experienced some setbacks relating to user verification and authentication,’ said Tara Williams, Senior Project Manager for EnableNSW Online.

‘We will not go live with our system until we are 100% satisfied it meets all of the necessary privacy and security requirements. Ensuring our end users are confident that their information and that of their patients’ is only accessed by the right person, is our highest priority.’

The team will spend the next few months collaborating with eHealth NSW security to work on possible solutions. All updates on the progress of EnableNSW Online will be provided on the website as well as via general emails.

New and improved Equipment Request Forms will be available soon

In preparation for the launch of EnableNSW Online in 2023, all EnableNSW Equipment Request Forms (ERFs) will soon be updated and available on the EnableNSW website.

Tara Williams, Senior Project Manager for EnableNSW Online says the updated ERFs will ensure consistency in the collection of information as well as adherence to the recent NSW Government branding framework.

‘For clinicians who cannot request equipment using EnableNSW Online, we need to ensure our paper forms complement the questions being submitted online. This will ensure our staff have the right information and can make an informed clinical decision, regardless of how requests are being channelled to our team.’

The updated ERFs will soon be available on the EnableNSW website under the forms and funding criteria section. In the meantime, clinicians should always access the current forms directly from the website.

Louise Mather-Mullard, Manager of Clinical Services for EnableNSW says that ERFs are continually updated and saved centrally on the EnableNSW website to ensure complete information is received and requests can be processed in a timely manner.

‘When we receive previous versions of ERFs it means we spend a lot more time going back and forth with the clinician to collect the required information, and this inevitably delays the outcome for the patient. It is important clinicians always access the ERFs from the website and do not save any forms locally as we often update them. This next change will be the biggest as all forms will change in some way.’

More information about this change and the updated forms will be made available on the website over the next few months.

Additional SASH Home Modification resources now available

Additional resources for the EnableNSW SASH Home Modifications Program are now available on the website; including frequently asked questions, report requirements and helpful information to streamline the application process.

While the application process remains the same, the information on the website aims to help occupational therapists (OTs)  understand the requirements when submitting a request and reduce the need for back-and-forth interactions with the EnableNSW team.

‘We see many SASH home modification funding requests go on hold as we wait for additional information from OTs,’ said Jemma Burns, Senior Clinical Advisor, EnableNSW

‘We’re hopeful the information on the website will give OTs a guide to what’s required before they submit their application and potentially reduce the time requests stay on hold.’

The EnableNSW SASH Home Modifications program currently has funding allocated until June 2023.

Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme eligibility expanded

Patients needing to travel to receive specialised healthcare will benefit from a $149.5m funding boost to the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).

The increased assistance, announced in the June 2022 State Budget, applies for travel and accommodation from August 2022 and will help ease the financial burden on people travelling long distances for treatment in NSW.

Patients attending high-risk foot services, non-commercial clinical trials, highly specialised publicly funded oral health clinics in NSW and ocularists are also eligible to claim.

Accommodation assistance will now be paid at a rate of:

  • $40 per person per night if patients are staying with family or friends (Airbnb will also be paid at this rate)
  • $75 per night if patients are staying in not-for-profit or commercial accommodation for the first seven nights and $120 per night from day eight onwards.

Additionally, patients traveling by private vehicle to access specialised healthcare will also benefit from an increase in the private vehicle subsidy – from 22c per kilometre to 40c per kilometre.

Jennifer Swain, Statewide Manager of IPTAAS says the changes will help more people in NSW get more back.

’We’re encouraged to see such a significant funding boost to IPTAAS, an important scheme that supports people in rural and regional areas at a time in their life when they need it most. The increased subsidies mean people can see the financial burdened lessened, while they focus on their health treatment.’

Patients are encouraged to use the IPTAAS eligibility checker on the website to see if the scheme is right for them and suits their individual situation. Information about the scheme, application forms and frequently asked questions are also on the website.

Equipment Loan Pool pilot now underway

In collaboration with the NSW Ministry of Health (MoH), HealthShare NSW partners, eHealth NSW and all local health districts (LHD), the EnableNSW Equipment Loan Pool (ELP) pilot was successfully launched earlier this year in two LHDs.

Using an EnableNSW internal IT system, Get My Assistive Technology (GMAT), the two pilot sites have been trialling the system to manage the processing of their ELP requests. The system aims to provide greater visibility over the lifecycle of equipment as well as better management of the loan period and cleaning/repair requirements once the equipment is returned.

Senior project lead Greg Foreman says the pilot is expected to help determine the effectiveness of the IT system and what learnings can be applied moving forward.

’We have a really unique opportunity to learn how this IT system can transform the administration, clinical and patient experience when dealing with loan equipment.

‘This pilot should show us the value of having a central system that can improve evidence-based reporting, inventory levels, identify safety risks, program cost analysis and patterns/trends as they emerge’

The trial will run for another three months before a detailed pilot evaluation is undertaken.

For more information about the pilot or the Equipment Loan Pool project, please contact Greg Foreman or Jackie Hiller at Enable@health.nsw.gov.au.

The EnableNSW Equipment centre continues to shine a light on sustainability

The EnableNSW Equipment Centre (EEC) continues to set high standards for sustainability, both environmental and financial. Since its establishment in 2013, the EEC has matured into a Sustainable Equipment Model, issuing over 10,000 items of equipment each year to support people to live safely at home and within the community.  An estimated 80% of self-care and mobility requests can be met through the equipment range available at the EEC, with an average delivery time of 7 days.

Critical to the success of this program is the collection and return of equipment that is no longer required by people in the community. Each year over 5,000 items are cleaned and refurbished to ‘as new’ condition by EEC technicians and returned to the shelves ready to be loaned to the next person.

‘There are so many benefits to the EnableNSW sustainable equipment model. It is a brilliant example of a circular economy,’ said Mark Rowlinson, EnableNSW Business and Vendor Manager

’With the money we save we can buy more equipment and help more people, including those with more complex equipment needs. We also save thousands of items from going to landfill each year. It’s a win for everyone.’

In late 2021 the team were awarded the HealthShare NSW Chief Executive award for sustainability, shining a light on the efforts of the team to refurbish and recycle.

‘In addition to refurbishing equipment, we sometimes collect equipment that is not part of our standard range but is still in good working order. This equipment is donated to clinical services across NSW to help with hospital discharge where appropriate.’

Additionally other materials are sorted for return to recycling service providers including metals and e-waste, foam rubber and batteries. The team are in the process of reviewing these recycling streams to establish their effectiveness and if more can be done to reduce their carbon footprint.

To learn more about the EnableNSW Sustainable Equipment Model, visit the EnableNSW website.

Philips CPAP and Bi-level correction work making good progress

NSW Health continues to work closely with Philips to help contact patients and respiratory clinicians, as part of their correction work for CPAP and Bi-level devices affected by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recall.

‘We are making every effort to reach patients impacted by this recall, through various channels including GP and respiratory networks,’ said Lisa Seymour, HealthShare NSW Senior Project Lead.

‘We are supporting Philips to ensure people who are using affected devices are issued with a replacement as a matter of priority.’

To support this process and to comply with clinical safety guidelines, the team are also assisting Philips by contacting respiratory clinicians to obtain up to settings for certain devices. While some of these may have been provided earlier, respiratory clinicians may be asked to re-submit these where necessary.

’If you are contacted by the EnableNSW team requesting an updated prescription or SD card download for your patient(s), please send this as soon as you can so we can ensure your patient is issued with a replacement device that is set up correctly to meet their clinical need.’

For more information about the TGA recall, please visit their website or for more general information the Philips website.