QSCIS Eligibility
The decision on an individual’s inclusion to any of the QSCIS services is based on established criteria for the service.
Criteria for each QSCIS component are designed to ensure equitable, timely and safe access to specialist SCI services for people in Queensland and Northern NSW. Referrals to QSCIS can be for both people with new SCI or pre-existing SCI.
QCSIS encourages clinicians to contact for advice if there is any doubt about the above inclusion criteria, management, or clinical safety. The QSCIS referral for a person with a new spinal cord injury: Information for clinicians document provides information on referral processes.
General inclusion criteria for eligibility to QSCIS
- Person has impairment resulting from a traumatic or non-traumatic SCI
- person resides in Queensland or Northern NSW
- person is aged 16 or above,
Specific inclusion criteria for QuickStart
- person has impairment resulting from a new traumatic or non-traumatic SCI
- person is admitted to an acute or rehabilitation setting other than SIU
Specific inclusion criteria for admission to SIU for acute management and primary rehabilitation
- person has impairment resulting from a new traumatic or non-traumatic SCI. Non-traumatic SCIs are usually of non- or slowly progressive aetiology.
- are assessed as able to participate in a rehabilitation program.
- the final decision to admit rests with the Spinal Injuries Unit Consultant Medical Director.
Specific inclusion criteria for readmission to SIU
- person has a pre-existing SCI and requires specialist care for secondary complications from a SCI, including, but not limited to:
- permanently ventilator dependent and cannot be managed in other facilities or in the community;
- admitted under the Skin Management and Rehabilitation Team (SMART) requiring surgical intervention for pressure injury repair;
- uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia;
- issues related to an implanted intrathecal baclofen pump;
- condition cannot be appropriately managed anywhere except the SIU.
- medical and surgical problems (not listed above) are managed by respective specialties except in circumstances where admission to SIU is approved by the Medical Director, SIU.
Specific inclusion criteria for receiving ambulatory services
- SIU Outpatient Clinic:
- person received care in the SIU.
- person is referred by a medical practitioner and assessed as meeting the general inclusion criteria for QSCIS eligibility.
- Transitional Rehabilitation Program (TRP):
- person who has been discharged from the SIU.
- dependent on service capacity, person who has been discharged from other rehabilitation units and is assessed as meeting the general inclusion criteria for QSCIS eligibility.
- Spinal Outreach Team (SPOT):
- person is assessed as meeting the general inclusion criteria for QSCIS eligibility.
- person received care in the SIU (either as inpatient or outpatient).