Access to healthcare: Implementation and outcomes of a hospital-based anaesthesia protocol for people with intellectual disability
Project Details
Funding partner
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN)
Timeframe
2025
Publications
Bellon, M., Farooziya, F., Mitchell, R., Liberali, S., Welsh, M., Jones, P. & Searle, S. (2025). Access to health care: Implementation and outcomes of a hospital-based anaesthesia protocol for people with intellectual disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 38(4), Article e70100. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70100
Resources
An easy-read resource for this project is not currently available.
Team
DCI researchers
Research partners
South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service (SAIDHS), NALHN- Dr Farima Forooziya, Dr Rodney Mitchell, Monica Welsh, Paul Jones, Stephanie Searle
SA Dental, CALHN- Associate Professor Sharon Liberali
Summary
This study documents the protocol, process and health outcomes of a multidisciplinary hospital-based Health Care Access Service providing pre-procedure sedation and general anaesthesia for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity.
Impact
The multidisciplinary SAIDHS Health Care Access Service has demonstrated how people with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity (often with previous healthcare-related trauma) can access healthcare if it is suitably adjusted to their needs. By providing an accessible, person-centred and trauma-informed approach to pre-procedure sedation and GA, the human right of equitable access to health care for people who are most at risk can be achieved.