Beth Harman
Advantage South - Accredited ACC Provider, New Zealand
Title: Injury related rehab in New Zealand – universal cover + community-based delivery for all NZ citizens and visitors alike - pluses and minuses of this model
Biography
Biography: Beth Harman
Abstract
New Zealand has a unique universal insurance cover whereby all citizens (+ visiting tourists) injured accidentally at work, leisure, sport, in the home, via traumatic events or medical misadventure, have entitlement to comprehensive rehabilitation. This is funded by an employer and employee levy taxed at source of income - in the case of employers it takes into account their turnover, staff no’s, risk profile and health and safety record in relation to work related notified injury events. This funds the Accident Compensation Body (ACC) an SOE to deliver; rehab to all injured (1 week to 100 years +); to support injured workers with weekly compensation (80% usual income) employers being free to use usual salaries to ‘fill the gap’; assistive equipment; household / vehicle adaptions; lump sums relating to their on-going % of disability. Advantage South (AS) is accredited to ACC to provide a suite of programmers designed to rehab their clients returning them to either their preinjury levels of independence or the optimum level of independence they can achieve. AS deliver within the home, community or our clinics. Programmers AS deliver include rehab for mild, moderate and severe TBI, Pain interventions - chronic and acute, Training for Independence programmers (for M/SK injuries, other injuries, TBI, pediatric and sensitive claim clients), Psychological services, Sensitive Claim (sexual abuse), Needs assessments, Neuropsychological and vocational (return to work) assistance. Programmers are largely not time bound. Clients depending on their level of need can receive multiple interventions over an extended timeframe including concurrent programmers. They can leave the service and return if they need further injury related supports. AS Interdisciplinary teams can include; Medical Specialists (Neuro, Pain, Psychiatric, Sports Med, OH); Clinical Psychologists, Neuropsychologists, Psychotherapists, Counselors, Social Workers, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Registered/OH Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, Dieticians, Literacy and Vocational Coaches, Rehab Coaches and Care Workers.