Enhanced Recovery Program

The TAC has developed an Enhanced Recovery Program to advance the quality of care and improve outcomes for TAC clients. Launched in July 2023, the program is an innovative new way for the TAC and physiotherapists to work together.

During the initial phase of the program, a small cohort of TAC clients and physiotherapists will participate to allow for refinement of the process. This iterative approach will ensure the program's effectiveness and pave the way for broader implementation in the future.

The program takes up to 12 weeks, depending on the client’s needs. During treatment, the client will be asked to complete a questionnaire four times in an online platform, ZEDOC, developed by digital health company The Clinician.

Client responses will help the physiotherapist and the TAC:

  • understand how the injury is affecting the client now and over the course of treatment
  • deliver treatment tailored to the client’s individual needs
  • identify any issues that could impact the client long-term, so they can take steps early to address them

This information will also give insights on the most effective treatment options to help future TAC clients.

Tracking and measuring outcomes

The Enhanced Recovery Program, co-designed with TAC clients and providers, will use the ZEDOC platform to collect information about a client’s health outcomes and experiences.

The platform rapidly analyses the client’s responses to targeted questions using validated patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient reported experience measures (PREMs).

These can inform the physiotherapist’s clinical decisions and assist them to deliver relevant communication and educational materials to the client.

The TAC’s collaboration with The Clinician builds upon the success of other organisations that have benefited from The Clinician’s technology platform and implementation experience:

  • South Australia’s Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health and Department for Health, which are introducing a comprehensive state-wide Patient Reported Measures program.
  • Victoria’s Department of Health, which is expanding its Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, a service that has already helped over 100,000 Victorians since April 2022.

Client participation

A TAC client’s eligibility for the Enhanced Recovery Program is based on factors such as type of injury and the time since their accident.

Over the course of the program, clients will be asked to complete a questionnaire within the ZEDOC platform four times – at the start, middle, end and after completion of the program. An SMS message will prompt them to do this. Clients can use their own device in the comfort of their home. Each questionnaire takes about 20 minutes. Clients can save their answers and return to the questions later, and they can skip any questions that they don’t wish to answer.

Participation in the program is entirely optional. There is no cost to the client.

Once invited to participate, a client can choose not to start the program. Or if they do start, they can opt out at any time by telling their physiotherapist. If a client opts out, they can continue their physiotherapy treatment if approved by the TAC. If a client needs TAC-funded treatments and services after the program finishes, the TAC can consider this.

Driving a value-based healthcare approach

The Enhanced Recovery Program is one of several TAC initiatives to develop a value-based healthcare approach, focused on delivering superior outcomes, improved patient experiences, and enhanced value for all stakeholders. We are committed to sharing findings from these ground-breaking programs and will provide regular updates on their progress.

Learn more about the TAC’s value-based healthcare approach at tac.vic.gov.au/vbhc.