Innovative projects to improve patient care

Fifteen of Victoria’s country hospitals are participating in innovative projects to streamline patient services and ensure that people receive treatment as promptly as possible, says Health Minister John Thwaites.

The projects, part of the Victorian Government’s Designing Care program, include redesigned and streamlined outpatient clinics at Geelong's Barwon Health and better systems to move older patients from hospital care and into residential facilities at Echuca Regional Health Service.

The rural hospitals and health services which are running projects are Ballarat Health Services, Barwon Health, Bairnsdale Health Services, Bendigo Health Care Group, Central Gippsland Health Service, Echuca Regional Health Service, Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe Regional Health Services, South West Health Care, Swan Hill Hospital, Wangaratta District Base Hospital, West Gippsland Hospital, Western District Health Services, Wimmera Health Care and Wodonga Health Services plus Rural Ambulance Victoria.

With funding through the Government’s $5 million Designing Care program, South West Healthcare at Warrnambool is also developing systems to fast-track elderly patients through the emergency department when they present with chronic health problems.

Announcing more than 30 separate projects in rural and metropolitan areas as part of Designing Care, Mr Thwaites said public hospitals and ambulances are set for a major overhaul and exchange of innovative systems and ideas through the coordinated 18-month program to improve patient care and treatment.

Mr Thwaites said the Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria are also participating in the Designing Care program and will collaborate on identifying and adopting the best patient care practices.

‘This is the first time in Australia that such a system-wide approach to improving patient care processes has been undertaken,’ Mr Thwaites said.

‘Patients in Victoria’s public hospitals and those using our ambulances enjoy world-class care but we need to constantly assess the effectiveness and efficiency of that care and the processes that support it.

‘It is essential that confidence in our public hospitals be maintained and the best means of doing that is to ensure every patient is exposed to not only the best treatment but also to exceptional service and the best administrative processes—from admission right through to discharge and beyond.

‘The clear focus of the Designing Care program is to improve services for patients by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our public hospital services and improving the integration of care.’

Hospitals and services have identified numerous projects—ranging from improving patient safety to improving support processes—and selected teams to investigate ways of implementing the benefits.

The projects encompassed three priority areas:

• Improving the flow of patients through hospitals by reducing delays and duplication and by improving the co-ordination of patient care from pre-admission to post-discharge;

• Improving quality management processes, including data management;

• Consolidating current processes.

‘This program will provide the processes for all those involved—from clinicians and management—to be actively involved in meaningful changes that directly or indirectly improves patient care,’ said Mr Thwaites.

The Department of Human Services would evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of all projects, as well as coordinate and promote collaboration between hospitals and those services working on similar projects.

‘At the end of the 18 months we will have in place a set of enhanced treatments, procedures and processes shaped around the needs of patients. At the same time the program will help create a climate within our hospitals of constantly seeking new and better ways of treating and dealing with patients,’ said Mr Thwaites.