Global Utilities

La Trobe University
Division of Nursing & Midwifery
Dr

Dr Susan Koch

Assoc. Professor, Director of Research and Higher Degrees

310
Ph: 03 9479 3597
Email: s.koch@latrobe.edu.au

Qualifications:

RN, RCM, RCNT, Diploma: Professional Studies, B.A.Ed.Studies (Stirling), Master of Nursing (Research) (RMIT), Ph.D (La Trobe)

Areas of Teaching

  • Gerontic nursing
  • Assessment
  • Care interventions
  • Health issues (dementia)

Professional Association Memberships

RCNA Victorian Chapter, Chair (2005 -

Fellow Royal College of Nursing, Australia. Admitted to the fellowship in 2000 in recognition of contribution to gerontic nursing and the RCNA.

Fellow Australian Association Gerontology. Admitted to the fellowship in 2000.

2004 - Director Australian Centre for Evidence Based. Aged Care: 

 Gerontic Society, Royal College of Nursing, Australia

2005 -  President Alzheimer's Australia, Victoria.

Research

2008. Nay, R., Koch,S., Wells, Y., Ibrahim, J. Strengthening Care for Outcomes for Residents with Evidence (SCORE). Department of Human services

2007. Koch, S., Fetherstonhaugh, D., Winbolt, M. Development and Delivery of evidence based workshops. Aged Care Accreditation Standards. ($40,746)

Nay, R., Koch, S. Bauer, M. Fetherstonhaugh, D. & Winbolt, M. ($19,961) Research and Practice Improvement and family/staff relationships in residential aged care.  Department of Health and Ageing

2006 - Nay, R., Koch, S., Koch, B. Development of Best Practice Models for Aged Care clinical placements for Undergraduate Nursing Students. James Cook University ($54,683)

2006 - Nay, R., Koch, S., Koch, B., Garratt, S. Funding to provide dementia training study centres for health professionals. Department of Health and Ageing. (1,995,637)

2006 - Koch, B., Nay, R., Koch, S. Development of an on-line clearing house of aged care educational material for use and access by University Schools of Nursing. James Cook University ($143,481)

2005 - Applied Aged Care Solutions P/L, La Trobe University, ACIL Tasman P/L. National trial of the new residential aged care funding instrument.

2005 - Davis S, Andrews G, Nay R & Koch S. Practical application of guidelines for a dementia friendly physical and social environment.

2004 - ARC Centre of Excellence in Aged and Community Care
Informatics: standards and intelligent technologies. CI for La Trobe University Gerontic Nursing Clinical School. $5.000.000.00. Submitted to ARC for funding.

2004 - Koch S, Nay R, Koch B, Bauer M, Wilson J. and Thomas S. $148.000.00. Report on the feasibility of developing a standards rating system for all Australian government aged care homes. Submitted to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

2004 - PricewaterhouseCoopers. $809.879.00 Proposal to evaluate the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in residential aged care facilities. Submitted to Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Investigator

2004 - Koch S, Kevin J, Lang L, Bauer M. What assessment outcomes make graduates more employable as nurses. Submitted for funding. $20.000.00

2003 - Koch S, Nay R. $387,071.18 Aged Care Nursing Re-entry Program Pilot. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

2003- 2004 Nay R, Koch S, Koch B, Edgar C. & Pitcher A. $82,020.90 Supported Residential Services (SRS) care planning skills enhancement project, Victorian Department of Human Services

2003 -2006 - Nay R, Koch S, Koch W, Garratt S. & Pitcher A. $250,000 Research and Practice Improvement. BECC.

2003 - Nay R, Thomas S, Koch S, Garratt S, Fox A. $74,192 Public Sector Residential Aged Care Quality of Care Performance Indicator. Victorian Department of Human Services

2001 - Koch S. and Powell G. $3,309. A comparison of electronic and traditional mail out survey methodologies for a sample of aged care facilities. LTU FHS / Faculty Research Grant

2001-2003 - Nay R, Scherer S, Koch S, Browning M. et al $54,000 Development of an evidence-based multidisciplinary guideline for the management of 'behaviours of concern' in residential aged care. Buckland Foundation - ANZ Trustees.

2001 - Pearson A, Nay R, Koch S. & Ward C. $39,000 Australian Aged Care Nursing: A Critical Review. DETYA Nursing Enquiry.

2001 - Nay R, Scherer S, Koch S, Browning M. et al. $20,000 Development of an evidence-based multidisciplinary guideline for the management of 'behaviours of concern' in residential aged care. LTU Collaborative Grant.

2000 - Pearson A, Nay R, Koch S, Ward C. & Rosewarne R. $298,444 Nurses returners' project - research into strategies for the recruitment and retention of qualified staff in residential aged care facilities. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

Committee Representation

  • Australian Government Aged Care Advisory Committee (2005 - 2008)
  • Australian Government Ageing consultative Committee (2008-
  • Alzheimer's Australia (Vic) Vice President. (2003 - 2005)
  • Australian Government National Aged Care Workforce Committee. (2003 -
  • Alzheimer's Australia. Transition to Residential Care Project. 2003
  • After Hours Medical Care in Residential Care Facilities Project Advisory Group. Ongoing
  • Alzheimer's Australia (Vic) National Conference Organising Management Committee. 2003
  • RCNA representative on the AMA Advisory Group on Care of Older People. Ongoing
  • Steering Committee member representing the RCNA: Promoting Positive Attitudes to Ageing by health and Aged Care 2000

  • Koch, S., Chair of the Benetas Expert Advisory Panel. Other member include: Naughtin, G., Hodder, P.

Service Providers

  • Member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee
  • Nursing sub committee, examining nursing issues in aged care. 1998-1999
  • Member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee Nursing sub committee, examining curricula content of palliative care issues in aged care. 2004

Professional Activity/Consultancy

2008. Koch, S. Restraint practices. May. Hampstead Aged Care. Arcare

2007. Koch, S., Nay, R., Edvardsson, D. Department of Human Services:  Assault/Abuse/Tolerance/Change Workshop. 19th  April

2007. Koch, S. Uniting Care, Victoria: Models of care for the future. What is the evidence? May

2007. Koch, S., Strother, R. Japanese Schooling Week. Presentation to students on restraint. May

2007. Attendance at discussion forum regarding HACC Active Service Model. June.

2007. S. Koch., Nay, R. Presentation to staff at Bendigo Health. June

June 2006 - Koch, S. Department of Health and Ageing: June, Melbourne. Quality Indicators for Residential Aged Care.

May 2006 - Koch, S. Presented on behalf of Professor Rhonda Nay at the National Pain conference. Melbourne.

April 2006 - Koch, S. Presented on behalf of Professor Rhonda Nay at the Geriatrician forum Melbourne.

October 2005 - Attended Cochrane collaboration Conference. Melbourne.

October 2005 - Attended ARC discovery grants forum.

September 2005 - Attended launch of the AA (Vic) Mind Your Mind initiative.

September 2005 - Represented the RCNA at the DHS "Prepare nurses for the future" workshop.

September 2005 - Invited to attend and present at the official opening of the Nurse practice Lab at the Mildura campus of La Trobe.

August 2005 - Ballarat District Nursing and Healthcare: Review and planning workshop for the Board of Management. Presentation Aged Care services and Primary Health Care.

August 2005 - Dementia a National Health Priority: Australian Government department of Health and Ageing. Melbourne

August 2005 - Researching dementia Care practice: Koch, S. Barriers and solutions, an academic perspective. Alzheimer's Australia, Vic

August 2005 - South West Healthcare in Warrnambool. One day workshop: Quality indicators/reduction of restraint use/sleep issues and the older person/sexuality

July 2005 - Meadowglen Nursing Centre. Epping. Presentation on oral Hygiene

May 2005 - Koch S. Nurse's Secret Business. Alzheimer's Australia, ACT.

May 2005 - Koch S. How older people can't sleep? Department of Human Services Aged Care Quality Improvement Seminar, Melbourne.

March 2005 - Participated in a Multidisciplinary seminar for Gerontological Care at Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea. The topic of my paper was the use of quality assurance/accreditation systems for Gerontic Nursing in Australia. Over 300 participants attended the presentation.

Also presented to the faculty members of the Department of Nursing on the topic of issues for ageing and nursing. Approximately 30 members of faculty attended. Presented to care managers from various aged care facilities in Daejeon. The participants were undertaking a continuing education course offered by the university and Associate Professor Koch was asked to speak on the "Effects of ageing, risk factors, assessment, planning & interventions"

Visited the Daejeon University Oriental Medicine Hospital. The hospital was one of five in the city of Daejeon and one of the most recently built. The tour included visiting the oriental medicine dispensary, meeting with medical and nursing staff and attending at outpatient clinics

October 2004 - Invited by DHS to facilitate a workshop for a pilot project to introduce quality indicators into 15 residential aged care facilities.

2004 - Attended a forum examining the content for undergraduate curricula in relation to palliative care and aged care integration. Invited by Queensland University who were funded by Australian Government Department of health and Ageing.

2002 - Have been asked to represent the Royal College of Nursing Australia on issues pertaining to gerontic nursing on numerous occasions. Including review of gerontic nursing input into undergraduate nursing curricula.

September 2002 - RCNA representative on the AMA Advisory Group on Care of Older People - Ongoing

2000 - Royal College of Nursing Australia: Development and delivery of education seminars on aged care: Assessment and management. 1996-99 - Recommended by the residents rights to consult with families on issues of resident safety.

Publications

Reports:

2007 Koch, S., McAuliffe, L., Nay, R., Koch, B., O'Donnell, M.  Best practice principles for Undergraduate nursing students in aged care clinical placements.  (ISBN 978-0-9581225-1-1)

2006.  Koch, S. Nay, R., Koch, B.
Report on the Feasibility of Developing a Standards Rating System for all Australian Government Subsidised Aged Care Homes (PDF 220 KB) Online ISBN: 1 74186 149 7 Publications Approval Number: 3952

2004. Nay R, Thomas S, Koch S, Wilson J et al. Quality Indicators in Public Sector Residential Aged Care Project Report, Department of Human Services. ISBN 07311 6198 X.

2003. Nay R, Closs B, Pitcher A, Fetherstonhaugh D, Koch S. 'Improving the admission and discharge practices of acute and sub-acute care facilitates in relation to people with dementia'. (pp198) DHS http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dementia

2003. Nay R, Koch S. SRS care planning enhancement project final report. Department of Human Services.
ISBN 0 7311 6188 2

Nay R, Koch S, & Tiziani A. Care planning and the SRS - A facilitator's guide. Department of Human Services.
ISBN: 0 7311 6189 0

Nay R, Koch S. & Tiziani A. Care planning and the SRS - Participant's manual
Department Human Services ISBN: 0 7311 6190 4

2003. Nay R, Scherer S, Pitcher A, Koch S. et al . Responding to Behaviours of Concern Among People Living in Residential Aged Care. ISBN 1920697497

2002. Pearson A, Nay R, Koch S, Ward C, Rosewarne R. Nurse returner's project - research into strategies for the recruitment and retention of qualified staff in residential aged care facilities -Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

2002. Pearson A, Nay R, Koch S. & Ward C. 'Australian Aged Care Nursing: A Critical Review of Education, Training, Recruitment and Retention in Residential and Community Settings' National Review of Nursing Education 2002 Department of Education, Science and Training and Department of Health & Ageing 1-97

2002. Pearson A, Nay R, Koch S, Ward C, Rosewarne R. (2002) Recruitment and retention of nurses in residential aged care Final Report Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

2001. Pearson A, Koch S. Australian Aged Care Nursing: A Critical Review of Education, Training, Recruitment and Retention in Residential and Community Settings. Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training

2001. Pearson A, Nay R, Koch S, Ward C. Australian Aged Care Nursing: A Critical Review. DETYA Nursing Enquiry.

2000. Nay R, Closs B, Pitcher A, Koch S. Dementia project: improving the admission and discharge practices of acute and sub-acute care facilities in relation to people who are dementing. interim report.

2000. Koch S, Nay R, Powell G. Abuse of Older people with Dementia and their Carers. Final Report, Alzheimer's Association Victoria; Melbourne: Department of Human Services.

2000. Nay R, Closs B, Pitcher A, Koch S. Increasing evidence based practice in relation to acute admission and discharge of people who are dementing. Interim Report: Division of Aged Care, Vic Gov.

1999. Nay R, Koch S, Trigar V. Alternatives to Restraint: Barriers to implementing a restraint free environment in aged care facilities. Final Report, Melbourne: Department of Human Services.

Articles:

Koch, S Nay, R McAuliffe, L & Koch, B. The feasibility of developing a standards rating system for all Australian government aged care homes. International Journal of Older People Nursing. June 2008 (Volume 3 issue 2 page 80-87)

Davis, S., Nay, R, Byers, S & Koch, S. Guiding Design of Dementia Friendly Environments in Residential Care Settings: Considering the Living Experiences. (2007) submitted to Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. Accepted April 2008

Hodgkinson, B., Koch, S., Nay, R., & Lewis, M. (2007). Managing the wandering behaviour of people living in a residential aged care facility. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 5(4), 406-436.

Koch, S., Nay, R.  Overcoming restraint use.  Examining Barriers in Australian Aged care Facilities.  Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 32 (1) 33-38 ISSN 0098-9134

2006 Nay, R., Koch, S., Koch, B., Bauer, M., Wilson, J. Australianisation of Australia/NZ edition of Mosby's medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary, P Harris, S Nagy, N Vardzxis (eds)

2005 Pitcher A. & Koch S. Commentary on Skovdahl, K et al. (2004) Persons with dementia showing aggressiveness: Stimulated recall interviews with caregivers after video recorded interactions. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14, 138-40.

2004. Pitcher A, Koch S. Commentary on Skovdahl, K., Larsson Kihlgren, A., and Kihlgren, M. Persons with dementia showing aggressiveness: Stimulated recall interviews with caregivers after video recorded interactions. Journal of Clinical Nursing 13, 1-11

2004. Heine J, Goldie P, & Koch S. Patients' experiences of readiness for discharge following total hip replacement.(Accepted to Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 2004.)

2003. Koch S. & Nay R. Reducing abuse of older people with dementia and their carers. Australasian Journal on Ageing. Volume 22.4: 191-195. December 2003.

Nay R. & Koch S. Barriers to overcoming restraint use. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. (Accepted January 2004)

Nay R, Scherer S, Pitcher A, Koch S. & Browning M. Pilot of a Clinical Guideline for responding to behaviours of concern in aged care facilities.
International Journal of Older People .(Accepted 2004)

2000. Koch S, Lyon C. A Case study approach to removing physical restraint. International Journal of Nursing Practice.

1999. Nay R, Garratt S, Koch S. Challenges for Australian nursing in the International Year of Older Persons, Geriatric Nursing

Book Chapters

Koch S, Edgar C, Nay R, Tiziani A. and Winbolt M. (2005) Australianisation of Chapter 12 Health Care of the Older Adult. In Smeltzer, S. & Bare, B. MedicalSurgical Nursing V2. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia.

2004. Nay R, Garratt S. (Eds). Nursing Older People. Issues and Innovation.(2nd edition).Elsevier. Sydney. Chapter: Physical Restraints Can We Free Older People? 2004.

1999. Nay R. and Garratt S. (Eds) Nursing older people: issues and innovations. MacLennan & Petty, Sydney. Chapter Physical Restraint In Aged Care - Can We Free Older People?

Monographs

2000 Nay R, Powell G. & Koch S. Developments and Innovations in the Nursing Care of Older People: An international review. International Council of Nursing. Monograph. Endorsed by the World Health Organisation.

Conference Proceedings

1999. Pittman L. & Koch S. Partnerships Specific: Crossing the rubicon into the future. Paper presented at Royal College of Nursing Conference: Evidence, Excellence and Expectations, 12-14 May 1999, and published in Conference proceedings (CD:ROM).

Books

Koch S, Garratt S. 2001 Assessing older people: A guide for health care workers. McLennan and Petty.

PAPERS PRESENTED (past 5 years):

Keynote Speaker:

Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Better Practice Conference, Adelaide 2008

Koch, S. Evidence Based Practice Workshop

Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Better Practice Conference 2007

Koch, S. Evidence based Practice: Myth or reality

August 2005 - Alzheimers Australian (Vic). ‘Researching dementia care practice: Koch, S Barriers and solutions, an academic perspective'.

May 2005 - Better Practice 2005, Aged Care Standards & Accreditation Agency. ‘The usefulness of quality indicators in improving clinical practice'.

March 2004 - Alzheimer's Australia. Seminar. Two papers. Title: Ethics and medications and Ethical issues of restraint use. Canberra.

June 2003 - Southern Health Seminar Series. Title: Restraint: Changing practice.

April 2003 - Department of Human Services. Dementia Education and Training. Dementia Care Management. Invited to present on "Dementia care in Acute Care"

March 2003 - DHS Aged Care Quality Improvement Workshop. Title: What's new in working towards a restraint free environment? Are your practices up to date?

February 2003 - The Office of the Public Advocate. 'The tension between protective custody and human rights'
Odyssey of Aged Care Congress for the Aged Care Association 1/11/02 'Standard of care and how we as nurses need to be the "keepers" of our standards'
The Office of the Public Advocate 6/11/02 'Abuse in older people'

March 2002 - Prince Songkla Univeristy. La Trobe University. Internal Conference: Traditions, Evidence and Innovations in Nursing. Phuket.
Title: Changing nursing practice to improve quality care.

November 2001 - Caroline Chisholm Ethics Conference. Melbourne. Title: Restraint in aged care - For whose benefit? Poor practice or abuse?

September 2001 - Royal College of Nursing Australia: Medical Surgical Conference. Melbourne. Title: Restraint use: Lessons to be learnt.

September 2001 - Alzheimer's Association Victoria: From Challenge to Change. Melbourne. Title: Looking beyond the behaviour.

July 2001 - The 17th Congress of the International Association of Gerontology: Global Aging. Working together in a changing world. Vancouver. Title: Restraint free care. Is it possible?

July 2001 - Ausmed Publications Conference: Aged Care Nursing. Melbourne. Title: Restraint in aged care: Therapeutic or abusive?

May 2001 - DHS Aged Care Quality Improvement Workshop. Title: Alternatives to restraint.

May 2001 - Australian Association of Gerontology Autumn Forum. Wangaratta. Title: Alternatives to restraint.

Accepted Conference Abstracts Presented:

October-November 2004 - Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, 4th JBI Australasian Colloquium, La Trobe University, Melbourne, The effectiveness of strategies to manage sleep in residents of aged care facilities: A systematic review.

November 2003 - Australian Association of Gerontology National Conference. Hobart. "Protection or abuse - An old problem needing a new definition.

2002 - Prince of Songkla University and La Trobe University International Conference: Traditions, Evidence and Innovations in Nursing. Phuket, Thailand. Title: Changing practice to improve quality of care.

October 2001 - International Alzheimer's Disease Conference: Christchurch. Title: Reducing elder abuse related to dementia: A partnership of care

July 2001 - 17th Congress of the International Association of Gerontology: Global Aging. Working together in a changing world. Vancouver.
Title: Restraint free care: Is it possible?

March 2001 - Alzheimer's Association Australia. Canberra. Title: Overcoming abuse of older people with dementia and their carers

July 2001 - Royal College of Nursing Australia: Health ethics futures: Hamilton Island. Title: Restraint in aged care: Therapeutic intervention or abuse? Title: Elder abuse related to dementia.

1999 - Legal and Ethical issues in aged care: Decision making, abuse and neglect: AAV. Melbourne. Restraint in aged care: Barriers and strategies to minimal restraint

Reviewing Journals

  • Australasian Journal of Ageing
  • Collegian: member of editorial board
  • International Journal of Nursing Practice
  • Journal of Advanced Nursing

Reviewing Research Proposals

2008. Invited to review NH&MRC research proposal

2004. Invited to review NH&MRC research proposal

University Community Involvement

Representative for the GNCS at the AUQU Quality Audit 2004

Community Involvement

  • Community Guardianship Program. Guardian appointed by the Office of the Public Advocate, 1991. This involves acting as guardian, for health, medical treatment and housing reasons of individuals who are cognitively incapable of making decisions for themselves. To date I have advocated on behalf of seven older people.
  • Adviser to Residential Care Rights: Advocacy body. My work is advising families and residential care facilities during periods of conflict regarding care issues. This has usually involved the use/non-use of physical and chemical restraint.

Higher Degree Supervision

PhD:

Completed PhD

Dr Sue Hunt: Medication Management.

PhD Students

Margaret Winbolt: Changing the culture of gerontic nursing. Co supervising with Prof Nay

Maie Tonuma: Language and  nursing practice. Co supervising with Prof Nay.

Lenore Rhodes: The old old person and day surgery. Data collection 2007

Co supervising with Prof Annells

Gordon Bingham: Hyperbaric therapy. Co supervising with Dr Ian Miller

James Kevin. Communities of practice. Co supervising with Prof Nay

Pauline Wong: Families experiences of their interactions in an ICU

Doctorate of Nursing

Lisa Clinnick: Co supervising with Prof Nay

Minor Thesis:

2004 Michael Curry: HIV and the older person (completed);
2003 Janelle Heine: Co-supervised with Dr Pat Goldie (School of Physiotherapy).
2000 Lisa Clinnick: The use of psychotropic medications as chemical restraint.
2000 Thawarn Lorgo: Elderly People's Experiences of a Discharge Process from a Thai Community Hospital.
2000 Julianne Hsieh: Taiwanese women's understanding of Alzheimer's Disease

Honours Project:

2007 Belinda Noel: Why do patients represent
2003 Maria Laba: The nurses perception for the need to physically restrain elderly patients in acute care settings.
2002 Jane Finlayson: Nurses' perception of physical restraint use on the elderly in an acute care setting.