The Intermediate Care Service is a short term service for clients who need help to recover from an illness or injury. The service is provided by a multi-disciplinary team in the person’s own home.  The multi-disciplinary team consists of: manager, nurse, physiotherapist, home help, occupational therapist and secretary.   

Intermediate Care assists in “bridging the gap” between secondary and primary care, by complimenting existing primary care services and facilitating early discharge from hospital and helping to avoid unnecessary admissions. The team managers attend multidisciplinary discharge meetings in Roscommon General Hospital as well as participating in Primary Care Team meetings in their respective areas.

Recent surveys show that 92% of Clients were very satisfied with the services received by the team with 84% expressing improvement in their quality of life through the intervention of the service.  Clients highlighted the importance of being able to stay in their own home, their personal satisfaction in regaining independence, greater confidence, increased functional mobility, empowerment, motivation and encouragement in social interaction in the community.

Achievement of this award once again demonstrates the commitment of staff and management to the provision of high quality customer focused health services and it adds to the five other departments in Roscommon PCCC which have already received ISO 9001:2008 certification. Mr. Frank Murphy, Local Health Manager stated “We are delighted to receive this award as the Intermediate Care Service clearly demonstrates the potential and benefits of integrated healthcare.” 

Ms. Fiona Neilan, Hospital Discharge Co-Ordinator advised that the Intermediate Care Service provides an invaluable service to Roscommon County Hospital. She said, “We have developed a good communication network between ourselves and the Intermediate Care Managers, incorporating their attendance at our weekly discharge meetings and subsequent review of patients on our wards by the Managers.  This has greatly facilitated early discharge and increased efficiencies in providing an integrated and seamless service between the Acute and P.C.C.C. The service provides immense support to both patients and families on discharge."

This integration of health services allows for identification of health trends and already a number of service improvements have been identified.  One is the need for a community based structured group education programme for people with type 2 diabetes to increase patient participation, self-care and management.  This will shortly be addressed through the implementation of the DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed)programme which will be led by a nurse from the Intermediate Care Service and a Dietician from the Hospital who have both completed accredited training.  Work has already commenced on preparing a business plan for the delivery of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme through seamless primary and secondary care services to empower and enable people with respiratory conditions to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.