Community linking & leisure
Recreation is an important part of the rehabilitation process. The leisure worker is available to assist people who have a spinal cord injury to re-integrate back into their community, ensuring access to supportive social networks and to help broaden their knowledge of leisure options. There is an ongoing leisure program that patients are welcome to participate in, which includes art, meditation, relaxation, woodwork and regular outings.
Sexual health counselling
The sexual health counsellor is available to patients and/or partners and offers the opportunity to ask questions and receive emotional and psychological support regarding concerns about body image, sexuality, relationships and sexual functioning. The service is non-judgemental and strictly confidential. The sexual counsellor is available throughout rehabilitation and following discharge.
Spinal Urology Service
The Spinal Urology Nurse Consultant provides nursing expertise in the management of a neurogenic bladder and coordinates this service.
Services include:
- Provision of information and education to health professionals, clients and families
- Evaluation and assessment of continence aids
- Coordination of Surgical Spinal Urology Elective Waiting List:
-
- This service is hospital based and operates on a part time basis. Clients and Health professionals may contact the Spinal Urology Nurse Consultant for information and/or appointment
Upper Limb Program
The Upper Limb Program is a service of the Victorian Spinal Cord Service, which aims to maximise upper limb function in people with tetraplegia. The major focus of the program is reconstructive surgery, which, for the majority of clients, involves tendon transfer surgery.
Community Spinal Nurses
Community Spinal Nurses provide an outreach service to clients of the VSCS. They work with people living with SCI to assist with needs such as continence, equipment, attendant care, sexuality and fertility, skin care and wound assessment. CSNs also liaise with local health care providers and with the VSCS rehabilitation team.
Consultation is available for up to 2 years after discharge from rehabilitation and may be by appointment in the home or by phone. Frequency of contact is based on individual requirements.
Spinal Outreach Risk Reduction Team (SpORRT)
The SpORRT consists of a Nurse, Occupational Therapist and a Physiotherapist.
Its objectives are to:
- reduce the risks of developing complications associated with SCI
- prevent an admission to Austin Health as a result of complications
- prevent emergency presentations to Austin Health as a result of complications
- increase planned admissions
- increase use of DTC reviews
- increase referrals to HITH & other treatment option
- better understand complication risk factors associated with SCI
- build a better understanding in the community of SCI and ongoing management
Phone: 03 9496 5351
sporrt@austin.org.au
VCCS outpatient nurse
The VSCS Outpatient Nurse provides information & advice for people with spinal cord injuries, their family or health professionals and can make appointments for V.S.C.S outpatient clinics for issues related to spinal cord damage.
Phone: 03 9496 5169
Fax: 03 9496 5176
noelene.cooper@austin.org.au
VCSC outpatient clinic
Appointments can be made by patients of the VSCS for a variety of clinics.
- Discharge Review Clinics - for follow up after discharge from an inpatient admission
- Annual Review Clinics provided by our multi disciplinary team
- Metropolitan
- Regional Victoria
- Albury
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Bairnsdale
- Geelong
- Mildura
- Shepparton
- Traralgon
- Wangaratta
- Warrnambool
Other clinics include:
- Shoulder Clinic
- Posture Pressure & Seating Clinic
- Continence Clinic
- Spasm
- Pain
- Sexuality
- Fertility
For appointments ring the VSCS Clinic on 03 9496 5169.
