ARCHI Net News

Welcome to the September edition of the ARCHI Net News

Thank you to everyone who took the time to tell us what they think of our new-look newsletter. We are pleased that so many of you like the new format.

ARCHI is all about sharing innovations and we want to help you promote your activities to improve healthcare delivery. If you’d like to contribute to our website or newsletter, please send an email to admin@archi.net.au.

What's more, Net News can now be freely distributed to non-members, so please pass this newsletter anyone you think will be interested. Although links in the newsletter connect readers to members-only content on the ARCHI site, details on how to join ARCHI are also provided. If you are not yet a member and interested in joining ARCHI, please see our membership page for more information.

Remember, calls for abstracts for our Innovations in Cardiovascular Health Seminar close this Friday!

Happy reading from the ARCHI Team!

In this issue...

• Decision-making in Clinical Practice : tools to assist nurses and midwives
• Delirium Prevention Model of Care
• Brian Dolan Master Class -  Why Patient Flow Matters
• NSW Health Awards
• Avoidable Admissions
• SAFTE becomes Healthy at Home Model of Care
• General Practice Liaison Conference Papers

Decision-making in Clinical Practice : tools to assist nurses and midwives

In 2005 it was agreed by Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) that the development of a national framework for decision-making (DMF) be developed as an addition to the suite of existing national standards. The national framework was released in May this year.

The national Framework consists of two parts. The first is a set of principles that form the foundation for the development and evaluation of decision-making tools. The second contains two templates for decision-making tools, one for nursing (registered and enrolled nurses) and one for midwifery, in recognition of the differences between the two professions. The principles are intended to guide the development and evaluation of decision-making tools in all Australian jurisdictions.

Delirium Prevention Model of Care

Delirium and functional decline are not inevitable consequences of hospitalisation for older people as they are recognisable and preventable. The Delirium Prevention Model of Care features the Recruitment of Volunteers to Improve Vitality in the Elderly (ReViVe) program at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

This program provides an opportunity to enhance the older person's journey. A pool of volunteers helps the ward staff to provide additional care to older patients. The interventions include volunteers providing patients with orientation information as to the 'here and now', practical assistance with mobility, meals and hydration, glasses and hearing aids and activities to maintain alertness and decrease boredom during hospitalisation.

Brian Dolan Master Class - Why Patient Flow Matters

Working with Canterbury District Health Board generally and Christchurch Hospital as a case study, this presentation described the Improving the Patient Journey programme, which has been running for three years, and outlined its impact on both performance and culture. While the catalyst for change was significant overcrowding in Emergency Department, the only way to address these pressures was to adopt a whole systems change.

The results have been impressive and have included medical and surgical patient streams, radiology, improving acute theatre access, after hours provision and capacity planning. Central to the programme are the transformational changes that have been adopted in the culture of the organisation where accountability and responsibility have been nurtured and change has been clinician led.

NSW Health Awards

The NSW Health Awards formally recognise and reward projects, initiatives and approaches that are producing measurable improvements. The 2007 entries are presented in the following categories:

• Making Prevention Everybody's Business
• Better Experiences for People using Health Services
• Primary Health and Continuing Care in the Community
• Building Regional and other Partnerships for Health
• Smart Choices about the Costs and Benefits of Health Services
• Building a Sustainable Health Workforce
• New Risks and Opportunities

All of the entries are presented on the ARCHI site, with the winners to be announced on 11 October 2007.

 

Avoidable Admissions

Resulting from extensive research and consultations with key clinicians, the Acute Care Taskforce (ACT) in collaboration with the NSW Health, Health Services Performance Improvement Branch (HSPIB), has developed the avoidable admissions strategy. The strategy identifies that it may be appropriate for many patients with some specific low complexity medical conditions, to be treated in alternative settings to in-patient hospital care.

The first conditions covered by the strategy are:

• Cellulitis (DRG: J64B);
• Community acquired pneumonia (DRG: E62C);
• COPD (DRG: E65B);
• Bronchitis and asthma (DRG: E69C);
• Red blood cell disorders and Transfusions (DRG: Q61C);
• DVT (DRG: F63B);
• Urinary tract infections (DRG: L67C), and;
• Acute non-surgical pain (musculotendinous disorders) (DRG: I71C).

SAFTE becomes Healthy at Home Model of Care

The SAFTE Model of Care has been revised and is now the Healthy at Home Model of Care. This model was developed as a response to the rapid growth in the ageing population. It aims to provide an effective model of care that provides a better alternative to inpatient care and supports older people in their home environment. It is an interagency model that provides integrated community care for people aged over 65 years (over 45 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) with emerging acute care needs.

General Practice Liaison Conference Papers

The theme for the 7th National GPLO Conference was "Sharing Health Information Electronically: Are we working together." Presentations include:

• 'TEDS' Journey to the GP - Dr Jacquie Garton-Smith
• The Bundoora Extended Care Electronic Medical Discharge - Rhonda Jennings
• Logan Hospital Medical Discharge Summary Audit - Dr Kim McFarlane
• Electronic Referral: More than Just Hitting ‘Send’ - Dr Sharon Monagle
• Implementation of a Shared Electronic Health Record System in North Brisbane - Brett Silvester
• Building an Integrated Health Care Approach in Brisbane South. Yes We Did, Really! - Caroline Nicholson
• Moving Forward in IM, Together - Dr John Kastrissios