Better Experiences for People using Health Services: 2007 NSW Health Awards
Creating better experiences for people using health services is a matter of making sure that these services continue to be high quality, appropriate, safe, available when and where needed, and coordinated to meet each individual’s needs, including those from Aboriginal or other culturally linguistically diverse backgrounds.
What we are striving for in 2010 is a health system that provides patients of NSW Health with ready access to satisfactory journeys through health services and ensures patients and their carers are informed and involved in healthcare decisions and treated with respect.
Winner
- D.A.N.G.E.R.S. - Doctors and Nurses General Emergency Response System - The introduction of DANGERS followed the review of documentation relating to patients who had experienced a significant deterioration in their condition or an adverse outcome and has led to dramtic improvement.
Finalists
- Innovative Model for Managing Chest Pain Presentations - The introduction of an ED Chest Pain Pathway and the establishment of a Chest Pain Evaluation Area (CPEA) is supported by the Cardiac Liaison Nurse (CLN) who facilitates early access to exercise stress testing for appropriate patients.
- Surgical Acute Rapid Assessment (SARA) Unit - The creation and evolution of the Surgical Acute Rapid Assessment Unit has resulted in a reduction of access block in surgical patients, with subsequent improvements in patient flow.
Entries
- Changing to Chairs- Models of Care in the Day Surgery Unit - This study showed that those patients recovered in a recliner chair were discharged on average 36 minutes faster than those recovered in a bed.
- Children’s Cancer and Haematology Service Treatment Passport - The implementation of the Patient Treatment Passport has provided the increased number of survivors of childhood cancer with a clear and concise document containing the relevant information pertinent to their type of cancer.
- Clinical Leadership in Clinical Governance - This project undertakes a medication administration audit aiming to embed a clinical governance model at the point-of-care. The clinical context is a custodial environment for young people aged 10-21 years.
- Clinical Services Redesign Program - Meeting Surgical Demand - A review of surgical practices, surgical admission processes and Operating Theatre resource allocation with implementation of the 23 solutions.
- GWAHS Nutrition and Food safety Program - This project aims to provide adequate nutrition to GWAHS clients and to ensure the food handling and processing meets current food safety regulations.
- Improving care of emergency transfer patients to the NSW Severe Burn Injury Service - Improving the the emergency care and transfer procedure from local facilities to specialised burn units.
- Infant Hip Dysplasia - Best Practice Management Model - The development of a best practice management model for babies with Developmental Dysplasia of Hips (DDH) requiring treatment with a Hip Abduction Orthosis (HAO).
- Integrated Approach to Treating Diabetes type II and Depression - An integrated treatment program addressing the interrelationship of diabetes and depression.
- Keeping Kids Safe in the ED – Think Amber - This initiative was the introduction of oral syringes that are incompatible with intravenous (IV) lines, thus preventing the inadvertent administration of harmful oral medications or oral rehydration fluids through an IV line.
- Parent and Carer Resource Centre – A Practical Approach to Caring for Carers - Describes the development of a Parent and Carer Resource Centre (the Centre), aimed at providing information, support and ‘time out’ for parents/carers.
- Pharmacists Utilise IIMS to Improve Medication Safety for Children with Cancer - The following strategies were implemented to improve medication safety: Pharmacist supervised prescribing; JMS education and support strategies, and; Alert posters/ lanyard cards.
- Physiotherapy at the Front Line: ED Physiotherapy - Commencement of appropriately timed physiotherapy intervention in ED aims to improve patient care and flow.
- Preventing Surgical Site Infections (SSI) in Maternity- A Collaborative Approach - The project addressed; education in pre-operative skin care; appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics in operating theatre; appropriate and timely hair removal; and compliance with a locally developed surgical wound care protocol.
- Redesign Journey to Improve Patient Access to Acute Mental Health Services - This project aimed improve the timeliness and quality of care provided to people with mental health issues who access Emergency Departments.
- Redesigning clinical services/Albury Base Hospital Bed Management Redesign - This multidisciplinary project aimed to improve patient flow from the point of admission to timely and appropriate discharge.
- Rural Multipurpose Service provides Palliative Care After-Hours Telephone Support Service (AHTSS) - A Registered Nurse (RN) rostered after hours provides a service by telephone, integrating the model into daily practice.
- Safe Triage in the Rural Setting - The triage process was remodelled to make real and sustained improvements in the accuracy of triage category allocation.
- SESIAHS Surgical Long Wait Reduction Program - Strategies employed by SESIAHS included the implementation of 23 hour wards and the consolidation of some surgical services in specific hospitals. Private delivery models were adopted for some specialties.
- Using knowledge to safeguard our nations - This project aimed to determine the prevalence of risk factors for CKD within an Indigenous population as part of developing a holistic strategy to prevent end stage kidney disease.
