Leah is an 11-year-old Aboriginal child who lives in Far North Queensland. Over the past two months, Leah complains that she has trouble hearing due to constant ear pain.
About the patient:
- Leah is an 11-year-old Aboriginal child who lives in Yarrabah in Far North Queensland.
- Over the past two months, Leah has had difficulty concentrating in class and often complains that she has trouble hearing due to constant ear pain.
- Her mum decides to take her to her local Aboriginal health clinic.
Diagnosis - Which roles helped?
- Leah attends the local Aboriginal Medical Service in Yarrabah and is seen by an Aboriginal Health Worker who undertakes an initial ear assessment.
- Based on that assessment, Leah is booked in for a diagnostic hearing assessment by an Audiologist.
- The visiting Audiologist determines that Leah has significant hearing loss and recommends follow-up with a specialist.
- Leah has an appointment the next day with a GP who confirms that Leah has otitis media, also known as a middle ear infection.
- The Administration Officer books Leah in to see an ENT specialist in Cairns.
Treatment - Which roles helped?
- On the day of the ENT appointment, the Transport Officer from the Aboriginal Medical Service drives Leah and her mum and 14 other children and their parents in a minibus into the specialist’s clinic in Cairns.
- The ENT specialist recommends surgery to insert a grommet into Leah’s ear.
- On the day of the surgery, the Transport Officer drives Leah and the other kids back to Cairns for their surgery.
- An Enrolled Nurse at the hospital speaks to Leah’s mum about the surgery and how she should care for Leah’s ear following surgery.
- The Aboriginal Health Worker provides Leah with a CheerUP Pack which contains lots of toys and activities to keep Leah distracted while she waits for surgery.
- Leah sees an Anaesthetist to determine the correct dose of anesthetic for the surgery.
- The ENT surgeon completes the ear surgery and Leah’s hearing improves almost immediately.
Outcome:
- When Leah returns to Yarrabah, she sees her GP to ensure that everything is fine following the surgery.
- The Aboriginal Health Worker provides ongoing advice to Leah and her mum to ensure that her ears stay healthy!
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