NSW: Post accident help

MEDIA RELEASE

St Vincents establishes motorcycle rider rehab program with donor support

St Vincents Hospital has established an identification and rehabilitation
initiative for riders injured in motorcycle accidents who present to
the Hospitals Emergency Department.

The program, referred to as MARI (Motorcycle Accident Rehabilitation
Initiative), has been enabled by a $30,000 donation from George and
Charis Schwarz following the successful sale of their photographic
journal Highlights of the Road.

George and Charis motivation in raising funds for riders was to support
the longer-term physical injuries and social and emotional problems
experienced by riders following an accident. Their feeling was that
these problems were not properly identified and supported by current
health protocols.

Their concern correlated with a recent accident injury study by Steven
Faux, Lachlan Donaldson and Kathryn Brooke of St Vincents Hospital
Rehabilitation Medicine Department.

When George and I spoke about this a few months back he was pretty amazed
that we had found the very same thing through our study, says Dr Faux,
Director, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Services at St Vincents.

The study of over 180 motor vehicle accidents found that almost half
were motorcycle accidents, and of these only one-third were given
support and assistance in addressing some common rider concerns. For
example: What has happened to my bike? How will I earn a living while
I am injured? What do I need to do about insurance?

The study also found that over half of accident victims had their
medicines changed on the day that they were discharged from hospital
with no one following up with the patient to check whether the change
in medicines was working to control their pain.

Perhaps most alarmingly, the study results indicated that less than
9 per cent of motor accident victims received psychological services
following an accident, adds Dr Faux.

MARI is collaboration between St Vincents Emergency Department,
Rehabilitation Department and Social Work Department to better address
these concerns. The program ensures that riders presenting to the
Emergency Department are properly identified for follow-up support by
rehabilitation and social workers.

This also extends to riders who have accidents but are not admitted to St
Vincents Hospital. In these circumstances, a face-to-face interview or
a telephone interview with a social worker will be arranged, to assist
riders with insurance issues, provide short-term funding entitlements,
and make sure they have access to proper medical and psychological
treatment, if needed.

The MARI fund, established with George and Charis donation, will finance
a number rehabilitation packages for riders who do not have access local
hospital or community support following an accident or who require more
rehabilitation than previously offered.

The fund will also provide support to collect data on people injured
by motorcycle accidents for St Vincents Rehabilitation Department. The
Department anticipates this may be the precursor of better provision of
psychosocial services to all victims of motor bike accidents.

Further contributions to the MARI fund are fully tax-deductible and
welcome.

Cheques to the MARI Fund should to be made payable to St Vincents Hospital
Sydney Ltd - Trust Fund Account MARI TF880845 and sent to St Vincents
Hospital Fundraising Office, 390 Victoria Street Darlinghurst NSW 2010.

________________________________________________________

For further information on the St Vincents Hospital MARI fund, please
contact:

Luisa Bustos, Communications Officer, St Vincents Hospital
(02) 8382 2348


For further information on the Highlights of the Road and George and
Charis fundraising appeal, please contact:

George Schwarz
(02) 9361 6452