Clinical assessment

Patients receive comprehensive assessment to determine their healthcare needs and appropriate treatment options.

Build capacity to identify and respond appropriately to people with intellectual disability 

Even when the intellectual disability is known, it may not be documented in a person’s medical record. The notation of intellectual disability does not always guarantee that the person’s disability support needs, in particular communication, have been identified, assessed and included in care planning. 

Clinicians can use existing processes and alerts within medical records to document:

• Intellectual disability and other disability alerts
• Clinical risks (such as difficulty swallowing, aspiration and falls)
• If the person is a NDIS participant 
• Communication or interpreter requirements
• Communication with family, supporters or guardians.

Assessment of risks includes:

• Identifying if the person’s intellectual disability is related to a particular syndrome and if there are there any clinical considerations as a result
• Ensuring that physical symptoms of ill health are not immediately attributed to a mental or behavioural problem, leaving other co-existing conditions undiagnosed 
• Identifying what the person is like when they are well, so any changes can be noted and explored
• Establishing accurate medical and health history, including previous episodes of delirium
• Reviewing lifestyle risks and strengths
• Identifying the person’s social and community situation 
• Reviewing the level of disability support that is needed in the healthcare setting and on discharge to the community.