Safety of Health Care
Winner
- TABLETS - Tablets are Bagged Letting Emergency Treat Safely - A multi-disciplinary project team was formed to devise and implement solutions which could be employed State-wide to combat the high number of patients who were over 75 years of age that were arriving at the Emergency Department without their medications..
Finalists
- Decreasing Central Venous Access Device (CVAD) Associated Blood Stream Infections (BSI) - Aim was to decrease Central Venous Access Device (CVAD) Associated Blood Stream Infections (BSI).
- Improving Patient Safety Through a New Clinical Handover Procedure - A new clinical handover procedure encompassed Bedside clinical handover, involvement of the Junior Medical Officer, safety checks of patient identification and equipment, checking of documentation and involvement of parents.
- Preventing Post Discharge Venousthromboembolism - The project involves a series of steps preparing the patient or their carer to administer subcutaneous Clexane following discharge for a period of 10 days. A Checklist commenced on Day One is used to guide staff through the processes of preparing for the outcome.
- REVIVE: Recruitment of Volunteers to Improve Vitality of the Elderly - Aim was to improve the safety and care of hospitalised older patients, and thereby improve health outcomes whilst also improving links with the community.
Entries
- Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy Implementation - The aim was to To increase the ability of nurses to detect, assess, refer and manage people with alcohol and other drug related problems and thereby reduce the cost associated with alcohol and other drug morbidity, mortality and social harm.
- Area Wide Malnutrition Screening and Assessment - A multidisciplinary project team was formed and used Clinical Practice Improvement methodology to explore the problem of acute inpatients that were malnourished.
- Batchwater Disinfector Installation in TSSU - When reprocessing surgical instruments, process design is significant, the choice of relevant process parameters for the effective removal of blood, the most common soil, is the first step towards effective monitoring and validation of cleaning efficacy.
- Changes in Clinical Care in the Orthopaedic Patient - A steering committee of managers of the hospital and clinical staff was formed; from this working parties were formed to address the areas of pre-admission assessment, admission, theatre and Central Sterilising Services Department (CSSD) practices.
- Clean Hospital Project - The project aim was to improve the overall cleanliness and clutter of patient care areas in four (4) wards by 50% in 6 months.
- Coffs Harbour Health Campus Pre-operative Hip and Knee Group - The Hip and Knee Group at CHHC aims to maintain or improve the function of patients who are on the waiting list for Elective Hip and Knee Surgery evidenced by improved Timed Up and Go*, as well as reducing length of stay through a targeted exercise program while improving the efficiency of Pre-Admission processes.
- CT Breast Protection and Radiation Shielding Project - The aim was to minimise radiation dose to the soft tissues of the breast during CT scans of the chest and minimise artefact production typically associated with the use of contoured purpose designed breast shields.
- DANGERS - Doctors and Nurses General Emergency Response System - Aim was to reduce the number of patient Adverse Outcomes for the clinically deteriorating patient, through the development and implementation of a Doctors And Nurses General Emergency Response System
- Development of an Adult Risk Screening Tool - The aim is that within one year, all patients who are admitted to medical / surgical wards in the NCAHS will be assessed and screened for risks using the Adult Patient Assessment Tool.
- Implementation of a Beside Locked Medication Storage Model - The aim was to sustain a 50% reduction in the rate of no documentation of administration of medications and evaluate consumer acceptance following the completion of the pilot project in December 2004.
- Improving Patient Care through a Wound Assessment and Monitoring System - The aim was to improve wound management outcomes by creating and implementing a wound assessment and documentation system based on best practice and clinical evidence.
- Improving the Care of Patients with a Vision Impairment - The aim of this project was to raise awareness of the staff in relation to the scope and number of patients with a vision impairment who access the Coffs Harbour Health Campus and how simple strategies can make the patient's visit safer and more comfortable.
- Inter-facility Cardiology Transport Service - The implementation of a dedicated cardiology transport service with an Advanced Life Support trained Nurse has ensured cardiac patients from the Maitland, Mater and Belmont Hospitals have a reduction in their risk of mortality.
- Introducing the Aggressive Response Team at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital - Aim was to develop a process to reduce staff injuries while effectively managing patients who are aggressive or likely to become aggressive in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital.
- Introduction of a Risk Management Program for Interventional Radiology - In the last year the division of interventional radiology has introduced a multilevel patient monitoring system for the prospective detection and timely management of complications.
- Managing Meals Safely : Tips for Family and Carers - Aim was to improve the level of education provided to patients and carers regarding swallowing difficulties and how hospital policies surrounding mealtime safety impact on their hospital stay.
- Medical Clearance Protocols for Mental Health Patients in the Emergency Department - The development of a protocol to streamline medical clearance and physical examination for mental health patients assessed within the emergency department and then admitted to the mental health inpatient unit.
- Medication Safety During the Discharge Process - Safety Breakthrough Collaborative (NMSBC) aim was for improved patient safety and outcomes through the reduction of potential adverse medication incidents involving system interfaces when patients move from the hospital setting to the community.
- Patient Identification Procedure for Chemotherapy Administration - Aim was to improve the verification of identification process for our patients in the outpatient setting and for staff to feel more confident in identifying the patients who were receiving chemotherapy.
- Patient Information Booklet - The aim was to develop and implement a Patient Information Booklet aimed to assist patients with information and service provision that may affect them during their hospital stay by improving communication and reducing anxiety for the patient, family and friends.
- Pressure Area Prevention Program : We've taken the pressure off our patients - The project aim was to achieve within Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) a sustained 50% reduction in the prevalence of pressure areas within 2 years.
- Reducing Paediatric Medication Errors - The aim was to reduce the number of paediatric medication errors at HKHS by 100% in 12 months.
- Results Reporting - Aim was to ensure that no patient is lost to follow-up by increasing the rate of Day Surgery Unit (DSU) histopathology reports being signed from 0% to 100%, within 6 months, whilst maintaining the chain of custody.
- Safe Food - The Next Step - Aim was to ensure food served at Northern Sydney Central Coast Health; Northern Sydney Sector Area Food Service (NSCCHNSSAFS) is compliant with international food safety and quality management standards [ISO 22000].
- Stand Tall, Don't Fall : Falls Prevention in the Bega Valley - In 2004, a project team was established to address the significant issue of falls and fall related injury in the Bega Valley.
- Successful Design and Implementation of a Comprehensive Radiation Oncology Incident Reporting System - The new system collated deviation events into categories, allowing for accurate future trend mapping and prevention.
- Thinning Out the Errors: Towards Safer Documentation of Heparin in Cardiac Step-Down - The aim of this project was to develop a culture of safety and examine potential patient risk, working collaboratively as a team to produce an effective tool to improve documentation of Heparin, minimising adverse Heparin incidents due to poor documentation.
- To Restrain or Not to Restrain - The aim was to promote patient safety by reducing the use of mechanical restraints and minimising the risk of injury when mechanical restraints are used or not,
- Towards Safer Use of Tramadol in the ED - The aim was to decrease the potential for adverse outcomes in the prescribing of tramadol in the emergency department within 12 months.
- Variance - Cutting Clinical Complications in CAPAC Services - The aim was to develop a local quality framework in parallel with an innovative clinical service to improve patient care. This would be demonstrated by a reduction in reported clinical events, known as Variances, within three years.
- Wagga Wagga Base Hospital CPI Team Development - The aim was to increase the involvement of the clinical midwifery workforce of this hospital in clinical practice improvement activities by 50%.
- Water Quality Improvement Program - Aim was to improve the quality of drinking water in five isolated correctional centres to achieve the standard of the Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines by December 2006.
- Working With the Community and Consumers to Improve Local environments from Inappropriately Discarded Sharps Waste - Aim was to encourage participation by consumers, community members and keystakeholders to reduce inappropriately discarded syringe litter in the Liverpool area.
