By Beril Alaka.

Revised Physiotherapy Reporting Tool.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital’s physiotherapy department launched a revised physiotherapy reporting tool in a bid to improve in data available for physiotherapy needs.

The new tool, designed by JOOTRH’s staff is also currently being piloted in nine other counties in Kenya.

The institution realized gaps in the existing physiotherapy reporting tool and the need to have aggregated data to inform decision-making. The tool will also strengthen the health system in terms of reducing disability-related morbidity and mortality rates through early identification, screening, and treatment.

After developing the tool, the Physiotherapy department reached out for support from the ministry of health to improve the tool, and the same was introduced to piloting counties.

The new tool has been divided into four different parts, they include the Inpatient Register, Outpatient Register, and Summary Register which are in hard copy but soon integrated soft copy will be made available. Deliberations are still ongoing regarding the fourth component of this tool which is the Community based rehabilitation, Register.

“The tool will make a follow-up of patients easier, patients in the ICU requiring physiotherapy services will also be identified with ease and a schedule of service adhered to.” Mr . Antony Ayora, head of the Physiotherapy department at JOOTRH said.

He added that staff shortage will be accurately reported by evaluating the physiotherapy workflow indicators, “Currently JOOTRH has only seven physiotherapists, while level six facility needs at least 33 physiotherapists.” Mr.Ayora added.

The tool will be used for lobbying for resources, diversification of costs, informing the decision, informing policy, and having information that can assist in research in the medical fraternity.

Questions such as why some services take long and reasons for particular charges are addressed through the tool which is also set to be digitalized in the future and made accessible even on mobile phones.

Mr. George Omamo – County Rehabilitation Coordinator and Mr. Tom Morike-County Health Records Officer accompanied Dr. Ayora who together with the JOOTRH’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. George Rae launched the tool.

The tool will be piloted within October in the nine identified counties, after which a gasp assessment will be done for the tool before cascading it for use nationally.

The team is also determined to incorporate the ‘outcome factor’ to realize the end goal by doing a summary of the report by the end of one month of the piloting period to identify gaps.