The Acute Medicine Programme (AMP) enables the appropriate streaming of acutely unwell medical patients away from Emergency Departments into Acute Medicine Assessment Units to improve clinical care and patient experience.

AMP Implementation Team

A national Acute Medicine Programme (AMP) Implementation team was set up with representatives from medical consultants, nursing and allied health professions.

The current AMP Implementation Team members are:

HSCP Implementation Team Members:

Alison Enright (HSCP Lead) Pauline Burke (Interim HSCP Lead)

Occupational Therapy / Liz Moran / Psychology / Natalie Nession
Carole Murphy / Veronica O’Flaherty
Sinead Crowe / Niamh Coleman
Patricia Kennelly / Pharmacy / Anne Marie Cushen
Physiotherapy / Dervilla Danaher / Marie-Claire Jago Byrne
Aine Byrne / Brian Rattigan
Judy Colin / Clin Biochem / Orla Maguire
Roisin O’Hanlon / Medical Physics / Wil van der Putten
Jenny Gilchrist / Margaret Moore
Dietetics / Paula O’Connor / Medical Lab Science / Pat Mulhare
Majella Doherty / Bernice Jackson
Annemarie Fanning / Podiatry / Pauline Wilson
Linda Killeen / Christine Kiernan
Grainne O’Byrne / Orthoptics / Jaina Byrne
Speech & Language Therapy / Anne Healy / Emma Goodall
Maeve Murphy / Radiography / Keith Morrissey
Karen Kirrane / Martina Glynn
Melissa Samuel / Clinical Measurement Science / Paul Nolan
Medical Social Work / Paula Markey
Janice Hanlon
Gerry Monaghan

Health and Social Care Professions - Implementation of the AMP

The therapy professions have been a key stakeholder in the Acute Medicine Programme (AMP) since its commencement in 2009. Anne-Marie Keown, the then Therapy Lead, worked on the design phase with clinical leaders from each of the six professions represented by the Therapy Professions Committee (Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Orthoptics and Podiatry).

Following Anne-Marie’s appointment to the position of Programme Manager, Alison Enright became the HSCP Lead in June, 2012 to lead the implementation phase of the programme.

During the latter half of 2012, the HSCP Lead worked with the national AMP Team, the Therapy Professions’ Advisor and clinical leaders from the therapy and wider health and social care professions to design the implementation methodology which would support the HSCPs to deliver on their commitment to the AMP and significantly enhance the patient experience. Pauline Burke, the Interim HSCP Lead, continues the collaboration and is also chairing the HSCP Steering Group since April 2013.

Implementation Methodology Framework

Delivering on the HSCP commitment to the programme required a careful approach to implementation which combined available expertise and optimal implementation planning to result in the realisation of programme goals for our patients. A right first time approach was fostered. Table 1 below illustrates the Implementation Methodology Framework which guides our approach to implementation. Phases 1 and 2 are now complete with phases 3 and 4 being addressed at present.

Table 1. Implementation Methodology Framework

Implementation – Phase 1

The first phase of the implementation planning process involved the establishment of an AMP HSCP Implementation Team. In order to strengthen the model and deliver on the therapy professions’ significant commitment to the AMP, it was agreed that the original Therapy Advisors Group (comprising a lead clinician representing his/her profession in the programme’s design phase) would be replaced with a steering group and supporting advisors from each profession.

Furthermore, recognising that the wider health and social care professions were also central to the successful implementation of the AMP, an invitation was extended to these groups (via the HSE’s HSCP Education and Development Unit) for clinical leaders from relevant professions to join the HSCP Implementation Team. Eight further professions committed to joining and the full team now comprises the following professions:

Speech and Language Therapy

Nutrition and Dietetics

Physiotherapy

Occupational Therapy

Podiatry/Chiropody

Orthoptics

Pharmacy

Psychology

Clinical Biochemistry

Social Work

Medical Lab Science

Radiography

Medical Physics

Clinical Measurement Science

Implementation – Phase 2

In order to agree an implementation methodology, all members of the HSCP Implementation Team were invited to participate in an interactive strategic implementation workshop in November, 2012 which aimed to:

  1. Consider an appropriate methodology
  2. Agree a way of working together that would enable the group to monitor progress and reflect on learning during the programme’s term
  3. Consider a plan to build understanding of and engagement around the implementation of this work across professional bodies and within organisations/sites.

This workshop led to agreement about the strategic implementation model and key deliverables for the first six months of the implementation term as outlined in table 2 below.

Table 2. Current Work Streams and Key Deliverables for 2013

Implementation – Phase 3

Development of the HSCP Strategic Objectives is ongoing with Work Streams working steadfastly to develop and advance the 2013 work plan. A mid-year review workshop took place in June 2013 with all the Steering Group members and advisors. This facilitated advancing the work stream consultation and collaboration as well as getting the National AMP Team’s perspective on rollout of organisation wide changes. Each of the Professional Body Representatives has a key role in influencing and developing the pathway, tools and competency framework that are in progress. The process of wider consultation is to commence in Quarter 4.

Successful implementation of the Acute Medicine Programme requires a co-ordinated approach by all professions – medicine, nursing and the health and social care professions – in order to optimise the acute medical care available to our patients.

To this end, the HSCP Lead collaborates regularly with relevant members of the national AMP Team for the purposes of reporting progress, agreeing practice changes across the multi-disciplinary team and joint service planning. On behalf of the HSCP Implementation Team, the Therapy Lead also works closely with the Therapy Professions Advisor on the continued improvement and reform in how we deliver services.

The Acute Medicine Programme is the first clinical care programme to formally recognise the importance of ensuring all relevant health and social care professions are engaged in the implementation process by supporting the establishment of a HSCP Implementation Team.

For HSCP Implementation Team members, this model represents a new way of working - collaborating across 14 professions to agree the practice changes required to ensure standardised care is delivered at the appropriate stage on the patient journey. Undoubtedly, this opportunity has already demonstrated the huge potential for innovation and shared growth and development as we work together to realise our vision for optimal acute medical care for patients.