The Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre (AROC) is the national rehabilitation medicine integrated outcomes centre of Australia and New Zealand. It is a joint initiative of the Australian rehabilitation sector (providers, funders, regulators and consumers).
The Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre (AROC) is the national rehabilitation medicine integrated outcomes centre of Australia and New Zealand. It is a joint initiative of the Australian rehabilitation sector (providers, funders, regulators and consumers). It commenced operation on 1 July 2002. With the support of its industry partners, AROC was established by the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). A business plan for AROC to run as a not-for-profit self-funding organisation was developed by an AROC Planning Group, consisting of representatives from across the sector.
The purpose and aims of AROC were established as, and continue to be:
AROC has its own Management Advisory Group consisting of representatives from across the sector. A Scientific and Clinical Advisory Committee was established to advise AROC on clinical and scientific issues. Stakeholders can have a direct say in the ongoing development of the Centre through their representatives on these committees.
AROC is supported by AFRM. AFRM appointed AHSRI at the University of Wollongong to manage AROC on its behalf and to undertake the day to day management of AROC.
AROC was established with funding from seven founding members. These foundation members contributed funds during AROC's establishment phase. AROC is currently funded by a combination of a Subscription model and a User Pays model. Members of AROC pay an annual subscription fee for which they receive several core services. AROC also provides additional services on a User Pays basis.
The AFRM appointed AHSRI at the University of Wollongong to manage AROC on its behalf and to undertake the day to day management of AROC. An AHSRI representative sits on the AROC Management Advisory Group in its data manager capacity. As a legal entity, the University of Wollongong provides infrastructure and corporate support services. Through AHSRI, AROC has access to the University's Ethics Committee.
AROC commenced operation in 2002 with seven founding members. Each foundation member appointed its own representative to the AROC Management Advisory Group. The seven foundation members were:
Since establishment, the majority of rehabilitation units (public and private) in Australia and New Zealand have joined AROC. In addition, a number of other interested stakeholders have joined. View the current AROC membership list.
Rehabilitation units who are members of AROC submit a prescribed data set, the AROC dataset, against each and every episode of rehabilitation they provide.
AROC receives this data, collates and analyses it, and provides a series of reports twice a year to submitting hospitals, payers, and other interested stakeholders. View AROC reports.
AROC collects and reports on data from the specialist medical rehabilitation sector. This is an important role in its own right. However, rehabilitation is typically provided as part of a broader episode that may include primary, acute and home and community care. A longer-term objective of AROC is to work with the relevant data management organisations to assess the feasibility of expanding the collection, or linking it to others, in order to measure and understand the role of rehabilitation within the broader health and community care systems. This is a complicated issue and will realistically take time to be addressed.
An introductory video explaining rehabilitation, developed by Training Centre in Subacute Care (TRACS)
This video has been developed to help you understand what to expect should you need inpatient rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is often needed following an accident, illness or surgery, and often takes place initially at a hospital. Rehabilitation is part of the journey back to independence, and your family and friends are encouraged to be part of the process.
Being independent as much as possible is important. We will work with you to set goals for your rehabilitation journey. Think about what you need to be able to do to leave hospital safely. Talk with your family about your goals. Your early goals may include getting back on your feet, showering, dressing, or making a cup of tea.
Many different people are involved in your rehab journey. Your doctors look after your medical needs while you’re on the program. Nurses support and assist you to care for yourself. Everyday tasks like showering and dressing, sitting out of bed and walking to the bathroom, are integral to your rehabilitation. Physiotherapists help you improve your strength, balance and fitness to get you moving again. Occupational therapists work with you to improve your independence, with activities such as personal care and home tasks. We will teach you how to use equipment to be as independent as possible. We will review your home set-up if needed. Allied health assistants and nursing assistants help you to do your exercises and everyday activities. Other support staff include ward clerks, food services, and patient support assistants. You may see a social worker, speech pathologist, dietician, pharmacist, and a phlebotomist, who will take blood for testing.
Each member of the team is there to guide you towards your goals, but the real work comes from you. Some of the things you can do while you’re in the hospital to help your progress include participate in all tasks which you would normally do for yourself, be out of bed during the day as much as you are able, get dressed in your day clothes, practice the exercises and technique you have learnt, move out of your bedroom during the day, have lunch in the patient lounge, join the group in the gym or courtyard, and go outside with your family on the weekend.
We want you to reach your goals and will help you to solve challenges on the way that may hold you back. It is important that you let us know if you are having any difficulties. Remember, you can continue to work on your goals once you leave the hospital.
So, in summary, here are some important things to remember. Generate goals and begin an action plan. Participate in all tasks that you would normally do yourself such as showering, bathing and getting dressed. Practice the exercises and techniques you have learned. Be out of bed as much as you are able and be as active as possible. Move out of your room during the day and go outside when you can. Continuing support is always available to help in your recovery, remember to talk to your keyworker and other staff.
